Merrimack Shoots Past Franklin Pierce, 23-6
Mia Basile leads the Warriors with six goals and seven points

RINDGE, N.H. (April 16, 2008) – Sophomore Mia Basile (Hampden, Mass./Minnechaug Regional) netted a game-high six goals as Merrimack College defeated Franklin Pierce University, 23-6, in a Northeast-10 Conference women’s lacrosse match on Wednesday night at Sodexho Field.

Basile added an assist for seven points, tying for the game high with junior teammate Lauren Leddy (Sea Girt, N.J./Manasquan), who scored three goals and assisted on a game-high four tallies. Classmate Kelly Pasquantonio (Plainville, Mass./King Philip Regional) also scored four goals and assisted on two for six points for the Warriors.

Franklin Pierce freshman Lauren Stille (North Quincy, Mass./North Quincy) had two goals, tying for the team high in points with junior May Stoffer (New Hartford, Conn./Watkinson), who scored once and added an assist. Three other Ravens scored one goal each on the night.

Leddy began the scoring 1:09 into the game with an unassisted tally, helping the Warriors jump out to a 5-0 lead in the first 5:46. Savini scored the Ravens’ first goal, her 24th of the season, only 28 seconds later, but Merrimack responded with eight consecutive goals over the next nine minutes to take a 13-1 lead midway through the first half. The team went into halftime with a 17-3 cushion and was never threatened in the second half.

Merrimack held a 40-19 advantage in shots on the night, including a 33-13 edge in shots on goal. Senior netminder Amanda DiNitto (East Moriches, N.Y./Shoreham Heights) made seven saves to earn the win, while Raven freshman Chaniece Franklyn (Chappaqua, N.Y./Horace Greeley) stopped 10 shots.

Franklin Pierce (2-10, 0-7 NE-10) will take on Long Island University-C.W. Post, top-ranked in this week’s Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association poll, on Saturday at noon at Sodexho Field. Merrimack (8-3, 7-2 NE-10) hosts IWLCA No. 9 University of New Haven on Friday at 4 p.m.

Merrimack 23, Franklin Pierce 6

                                                                    1      2              F

Merrimack (8-3, 7-2 NE-10)                   17   6      -       23

Franklin Pierce (2-10, 0-7 NE-10)         3      3      -       6

Merrimack Scoring:

Goals: Ashley Ferrandiz 4, Mallory Ferrandiz 4, Brigid Brady 3, Kristine Lambracht 3, Brianna Kenworthy 2, 

Nicole Van Leer 2, Carolina Marrero 1, Sarah LeGoff 1.

Assists: Mallory Ferrandiz 4, Brianna Kenworthy 3, Sarah LeGoff 2, Heather Miles 2, Brigid Brady 1, 

Kristine Lambracht 1.

Franklin Pierce Scoring:

Goals: Lauren Stille 2, Jordan Baillargeon 1, Jillian Benn 1, Carla Savini 1, May Stoffer 1.

Assists: Celine Stamets 1, May Stoffer 1.

Goaltending:

Merrimack: Amanda DiNitto (60:00), 7 saves.

Franklin Pierce: Chaniece Franklyn (60:00), 10 saves.

 GAME STATISTICS AND BOX SCORE