#6 Franklin Pierce Defeats Assumption, 4-2
Welcome, Hislop net first-half doubles 
to lead Ravens to victory

RINDGE, N.H. (September 17, 2003) - Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 6 in this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, remained perfect in Conference play with a 4-2 victory over Assumption College, ranked sixth in the region, in Northeast-10 Conference women’s soccer action at Crystal Field this afternoon.

            Junior All-American Meghan Welcome (Haverhill, Mass./Haverhill) and sophomore Laura Hislop (Belfast, Northern Ireland) each netted two first half goals as Franklin Pierce opened a 4-1 halftime advantage and withstood a gallant second-half effort from Assumption to extend its home unbeaten streak against New England opposition to 89 matches.

            The Greyhounds kept the region’s top-ranked team at bay for most of the first half, but the Ravens broke through in the 30^th minute when Hislop beat two defenders before unleashing a shot from the top of the 18-yard box that beat Assumption sophomore goalkeeper Christine Keenan (Bolton, Mass./Nashoba) to the upper left corner of the net.

            Franklin Pierce extended its lead to 2-0 just over four minutes later when Welcome fired a shot that deflected off Keenan and into the net at 33:38.            

Assumption drew within one less than three minutes later as sophomore Erin Faucher (North Grosvernordale, Conn./Tourtellotte) broke down the right side and chipped a shot over Ravens senior goalkeeper Aase Kibsgaard (Korgen, Norway) for her team-leading seventh goal of the season at 36:04.

            The Ravens answered quickly as Welcome netted what proved to be the match-winner in the 39^th minute when she intercepted a poor goal kick and lofted a shot over Keenan for her Conference-leading ninth marker of the season.

            Hislop rounded out the opening half scoring with a spectacular individual effort, beating three defenders before firing a shot just inside the box over Keenan at 41:29.

            Assumption threw a scare into the Ravens late as it began to gain momentum, which resulted in its second goal of the match in the 85^th minute. Faucher sent a pass across the middle of the penalty area to senior Angela Goncalves (Ludlow, Mass./Ludlow) who scored on her second touch.

            Keenan finished the match with ten saves for the Greyhounds, while Kibsgaard registered a save in 80 minutes of action before giving way to freshman Linnea Authier (East Longmeadow, Mass./East Longmeadow) for the final ten.

            Franklin Pierce (5-1, 4-0 NE-10) returns to action on Saturday when it hosts College of Saint Rose, ranked fifth in the New England Region, at 2 p.m. Assumption (5-2, 2-2 NE-10) visits American International College on Saturday at 1 p.m.

MATCH STATISTICS