Written by Director of Athletic Communications Luke Tracy

RAVEN STANDOUTS:
Mollie Cahalane: 2 goals
Alice Nilson: 1 goal, 1 assist
Johanne Guldbaek-Pedersen: 1 goal
Ruby Conroy: 1 assist
Emily Schmolke: 1 assist

NEW HAVEN, CONN. (9/30/2023) – After a three-week stretch of games that included two ties and two losses, the Franklin Pierce women's soccer program reentered the win column Saturday in a 4-0 shutout victory over Southern Connecticut State University.

With the win, the Ravens improved their record to 2-3-3 (1-2-1, NE10).

During the match on Jess Dow Field in New Haven, the Ravens controlled the tempo from the start to the finish. Defensively, the Ravens were a force, only allowing the Owls to take five shots in the entire game, all of which happened in the first half. Of the five shots, only three were on net and FPU junior goal keeper Emilie Fox (Bridgewater, Mass.) stepped up to make all three saves.

On the other end of the field, the Ravens offense had the pedal to the floor the whole game outshooting SCSU 20 to five. Looking for a more balanced and complete game, the Ravens made it happen as the team scored two goals in each half.

The first goal came from Mollie Cahalane (Merrimac, Mass.) just before the 30-minute mark. Raven junior defender Brianna Trappett (Newcastle, Australia) hit a zone clearing pass that landed right in front of Cahalane as she pressed towards the Owl's net. The defender that was all over Cahalane fell as they battled for the ball and just as she got up, some fancy footwork spun her around giving Cahalane just enough space to plant her right foot and fire a left footer towards the goal. Out of position, the Owls goalie watched as the ball cruised and hit the top left corner giving the Ravens the 1-0 lead.

The Raven's second goal was also sparked by smart decision making from their own defensive players. In the 36^th minute, freshman backer Alice Nilsson (Stenungsund, Sweden) caught a pass ten yards before mid-field and pushed into the Raven's offensive zone. With little pressure, Nilsson brought the ball all the way to the box and kicked a cross to FPU freshman midfielder Johanne Guldbaek-Pedersen (Hadsten, Denmark) who hit a one-timer bottom right putting the Ravens ahead 2-0 to close out the first half.

The Ravens kept the foot on the gas in the second half and even scored in similar fashion. In the 64^th minute, the Ravens forced a failed clear and sophomore backer Ruby Conroy (Hawthorne, N.J.) pushed into the offensive zone. Hitting a cross pass to the middle of the box, Conroy found Alice Nilsson who hit a one timer by the SCSU goalie taking the 3-0 lead. The pass made by Conroy mirrored the pass Nilsson made in the first half, both resulted in a Ravens goal.

The final goal of the game came three minutes later and left the SCSU defense confused. After another failed clear by the Owls, the Ravens secured control of the ball just shy of midfield. From there, the ball was kicked towards the right goal post and looked to be going out of bounds. As the ball took one bounce, just feet before the end line, freshman forward Emily Schmolke (Boesel, Germany) leaped from inbounds and kicked the ball straight up before she or the ball were out of play. The ball went up and over the cross bar, to Mollie Cahalane who practically finished her shot inside of the net. Though there was confusion on what happened, the referees called it a good goal marking the 4^th and final goal of the game.

NEXT FOR THE RAVENS: The Ravens hit the road for a long road trip out to Roberts Wesleyan on Tuesday October 3^rd to play the Redhawks at 3:00 PM.