#10 Franklin Pierce Edges
Southern N.H., 2-1
Hislop sets up both Raven goals, Makila nets winner

MANCHESTER, N.H. (October 25, 2003) – Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 10 in this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, got a goal in each half and held off Southern New Hampshire University, ranked fourth in the New England region, 2-1 in Northeast-10 Conference women’s soccer action at Penman Field this afternoon.

            Sophomore forward Laura Hislop (Belfast, Northern Ireland), fresh off a two-goal effort for the Irish National Team in a European Championship qualifier in Malta on Wednesday, set up both Franklin Pierce goals this afternoon. Junior Martta Makila’s (Vantaa, Finland) match-winner in the 52^nd minute gave the Ravens a 2-0 lead at the time.           

The Ravens, ranked second in New England, opened the scoring just 3:38 into the match as junior All-American Meghan Welcome (Haverhill, Mass./Haverhill) was unmarked in the center of the penalty area and one-timed a waist-high ball into the left side of the net off a cross from Hislop deep on the left flank.

            The goal was Welcome’s Conference-leading 21^st of the season and 48^th of her career, matching the program’s career record for goals by a US-born player set by Amy Hanlon from 1992-95.

            Southern New Hampshire has its best chance to equalize in the 27^th minute, but junior Lindsay Parks (Littleton, Mass./Littleton) had her shot off a corner kick stopped on the line by Franklin Pierce freshman back Kristen Lake (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield).

            Hislop set up the Ravens second tally when she served a cross from the left side on the deck that was touched by sophomore Elizabeth Allen (Durham, N.H./Oyster River) before Makila buried it into the goal at the far post.           

The Penwomen closed within a goal in the 65^th minute when sophomore Jill Grenier (Bedford, N.H./Manchester West) sent a pass across the middle of the pitch that was settled by Parks, who then chipped a shot from 25-yards out that caught Franklin Pierce senior goalkeeper Aase Kibsgaard (Korgen, Norway) off her line.

            Kibsgaard finished the match with three saves for the Ravens, while SNHU senior goalkeeper Anastasia Carson (Wylie, Texas/Manchester (N.H.) Memorial) registered four stops.

Franklin Pierce (14-2, 12-1 NE-10) rounds out its regular season in Manchester on Wednesday when it visits Saint Anselm College at 3 p.m. Southern N.H. (10-3-4, 8-3-3 NE-10) now awaits word on its opponent in the opening round of the Northeast-10 Tournament on Sunday,
November 2.

MATCH STATISTICS