Freshman Alissa Silverman netted a match-high five goals against AIC

Franklin Pierce Clinches Postseason with Win at AIC, 13-7

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (April 24, 2003) - The Franklin Pierce women's lacrosse team clinched the first postseason berth in program history with a 13-7 victory over American International College in Northeast-10 Conference action this afternoon.

With today's victory, Franklin Pierce sealed a spot in next week's Northeast-10 Conference Tournament as the No. 6 seed. The Ravens will visit the third-seeded team for a first round match. Date, time and opponent are yet to be determined.

Junior Shalon King dished two assists and set a new program single-season record with nine assists this season

As they have all season, freshmen Alissa Silverman (Sandwich, Mass./Sandwich) and Courtney Boardman (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle) led the Ravens to victory. Silverman netted a match-high five goals, while Boardman totaled a match-best six points with three goals and a season-high three assists. Senior Danielle Cloutier (Windham, Maine/Bonny Eagle) registered the first four points of her collegiate career with three goals and an assist.

Junior Shalon King (Phippsburg, Maine/Morse) dished a pair of assists to give her nine for the season to set a new program single-season record. Senior Rebecca Thibault (Auburn, Mass./Auburn) chipped in a pair of markers. Junior goalkeeper Ashley Simpson (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield) preserved the win with 20 saves.

Junior Sheri Benton led American International with three goals. Senior Carla Cardaropoli and sophomores Carmen Carter and Kristy McIntyre each added a goal and assist.

Senior goalkeeper Priya Gomes registered 16 stops in net.

Carter gave AIC a quick 1-0 lead just 2:17 into the contest, but Franklin Pierce outscored the Yellow Jackets, 6-1, over the final 24 minutes of the opening half to take a 7-2 lead at the intermission. Silverman led the charge with three of the Ravens first half tallies.

Franklin Pierce (5-8, 4-5 NE-10) returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Long Island for a non-conference match at No. 3-ranked LIU-C.W. Post at 11 a.m. AIC (1-9, 1-6 NE-10) visits Merrimack College on Saturday at 11 a.m.