Article written by Director of Athletic Communications Luke Tracy

Raven Standouts:
Claudia Peirce: 1 Goal, 3 Shots on Goal
Gianna Derose: 1 Goal, 2 Shots on Goal
Ruby Conroy: 1 Assist
Emilie Fox (GK): Faced 4 shots and recorded 2 saves

BRIDGEPORT, CONN. (09/12/2023) – The Franklin Pierce University women's soccer program tallied it's second tie of the season against the University of Bridgeport Purple Knights Monday night. After the full 90 minutes both teams walked away with two goals apiece.

The Ravens controlled the pace early on possessing the ball a majority of the time as the Purple Knights pressed out aggressively which earned the team three consecutive fouls in the first few minutes of the game. Though Pierce was often in control of the ball, the first shot of the game didn't come until the 16^th minute by Franklin Pierce Sophomore Claudia Peirce (Carver, Mass.). FPU outshot and kept control for a majority of the first half but with just five minutes until halftime, Bridgeport's Angelina LoFranco pressed out and stole a pass from the Raven's defense as FPU was trying to clear the ball out of the zone. Sprinting down field, Lofranco had three steps on the closest FPU defender. Franklin Pierce Goalie Emilie Fox (Bridgewater, Mass.)  pressed out and dove right, Lofranco shot and fell left, the ball slipped by and hit the back of the net. Though the Ravens outshot the Purple Knights 5-2 in the first half, Bridgeport went into halftime with the 1-0 lead.

During halftime, the lights flipped on but so did mother nature when cracks of thunder rang out near Knights Field forcing a delay. The extra time may have helped the Ravens reset because less than 3 minutes into the second half, FPU evened the score. Sophomore Ruby Conroy (Hawthorne, N.J) caught a pass in front of the Raven's bench, and pushed up field. With just a few steps in front of her defender she crossed a pass to the middle of the box where she found senior Gianna Derose (Brewster, N.Y.) a step ahead of her own defender. All at once, Bridgeport's goalie dove left, but not nearly fast enough for a one-timer from Derose, Ravens evened the score 1-1.

Minutes later the Ravens took their first lead of the game. In the 57^th minute, Claudia Peirce caught a pass in the same spot Conroy was 10 minutes prior. Pushing up field and towards the box, a Bridgeport defender pressed out and overcommitted down field. Peirce cut left easily going by and gave herself five yards from the nearest defender. Recognizing the space, Peirce slowed, planted her right foot, and shot a missile from just outside the box. Bridgeport's keeper was lined up four feet from the post, which was far too much space for Peirce. Diving to make a save, she missed the ball and the Ravens took the 2-1 lead.

An orange sunset lit up the sky over Bridgeport as the game clock entered it's final 20 minutes and with the dwindling sunlight was an urgency from the Purple Knights to even the score. In the 69^th minute, a foul on the Ravens led to a free kick about 25 yards away from the Raven's net. Three Raven's lined up shoulder to shoulder as Bridgeport's Solune Moll eyed her shot. From deep, Moll kicked the ball hard and high aiming for the top left corner. Just out of reach from a save, the shot went in and the Purple Knights evened the score 2-2.

The remainder of the game was a chippy battle between the teams looking to take the lead. Two yellow cards were handed out to the Purple Knights and one to the Ravens, but in the end neither team could find the back of the net.

Earning their second tie of the season, the Franklin Pierce Ravens are now (1-0-2).

NEXT UP FOR THE RAVENS: The team's next matchup is set for Saturday September, 16^th against Saint Rose at 7:00 PM on Sodexo Field in Rindge, New Hampshire.