#1 Franklin Pierce Escapes 
Southern Connecticut, 2-1
Hislop double erases early Owls advantage

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (September 8, 2004) – Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 1 this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, escaped with a 2-1 victory over Southern Connecticut State University, ranked fifth in the New England Region, in Northeast-10 Conference women’s soccer action at Jess Dow Field tonight.

            Junior All-American Laura Hislop (Belfast, Northern Ireland) netted both Franklin Pierce markers as the Ravens erased an early one-goal deficit against Southern Connecticut for the second-straight year en route to the victory.

            Hislop netted the match-winner in the 65^th minute as a through ball from senior Martta Makila (Vantaa, Finland) sent her off on a breakaway.

            Southern Connecticut netted the first goal of the match in the 15^th minute as senior Sarah Martikainen (Trumbull, Conn./St. Joseph) headed in a corner kick from sophomore Beth Gandley (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem).

            Hislop equalized the match just 7:20 before the intermission, assisted by sophomore Alex Scavo (Toronto, Ontario/Brother Andre).

            Both sides had goals disallowed in the second half, one for Hislop, which would have given her her second-straight hat trick (seventh career).

            Franklin Pierce freshman Jenna Mello (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) registered one first-half save to preserve the victory. Junior Alana Bouley (Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro) posted three stops for Southern Connecticut.

            Franklin Pierce (3-0, 1-0 NE-10) returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Saint Michael’s College at 5 p.m. Southern Connecticut (3-1, 0-1 NE-10) visits No. 18 Merrimack College on Saturday at 1 p.m.

MATCH STATISTICS