#4 Franklin Pierce Polishes Off 
Saint Anselm, 4-1
Ravens cruise into postseason winners 
of eight straight

RINDGE, N.H. (October 27, 2004) – Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 4 in this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas women’s Division II poll, cruised into the postseason with a 4-1 victory over Saint Anselm College in the regular season finale for both at Sodexho Field this afternoon.

            Top-seeded Franklin Pierce (15-1, 13-1 NE-10) opens defense of its four-straight Northeast-10 Tournament titles on Sunday when it hosts eighth seeded UMass Lowell, on Sunday at 3 p.m. UMass Lowell (9-9-1, 6-7-1 NE-10) clinched its first postseason berth in program history with a 3-2 double-overtime victory at American International College today. Saint Anselm’s season draws to a close with a 7-11 record overall, 3-11 in the NE-10.

            Junior All-American Laura Hislop (Belfast, Northern Ireland) totaled five points with two goals and an assist for the Ravens in a match that saw all five goals scored in the opening 45-minutes. Freshman Jenna Giardina (Pittsfield, Mass./Taconic) added three points, netting the first goal of her collegiate career and dishing an assist. Junior Sonya Hughes (Balbriggan, Ireland) chipped in with a goal.            

Hislop helped put Franklin Pierce ahead just 6:44 into the match when her through ball from the right side sent Giardina in one-on-one with Saint Anselm senior goalkeeper Kathryn Mullin (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) for a shot from the left channel into the right side of the net. Giardina’s first collegiate goal came on the first shot of the match by either side.

            Hughes put the Ravens up a pair in the 20^th minute as junior Elizabeth Allen (Durham, N.H./Oyster River) set her up with a square ball across the top of the circle for a blast into the upper right corner.

            Hislop netted her first goal just 1:41 after Hughes’ marker when she gathered the ball just inside midfield and beat no less than four defenders before breaking in one-on-one with Mullin for a low shot into the right corner at 21:25.

            Hislop finished off her double in the 32^nd minute off a Saint Anselm turnover. Giardina intercepted the ball, and her pass hit Hislop on a well-timed run through the last line of defense for a shot into the lower left corner of the net.

            Saint Anselm grabbed a consolation goal in the 39^th minute off a Ravens giveaway deep in their defensive zone. The failed clear went straight to sophomore Jocelyn Savastano (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth North), who fired a shot just inside the left post.

            Sophomore goalkeeper Linnea Authier (East Longmeadow, Mass./East Longmeadow) registered two saves for Franklin Pierce. Mullin made two stops in the first half for Saint Anselm, before giving way to sophomore Ashley Capachione (Whitman, Mass./Cardinal Spellman), who made four stops in a scoreless second half.

MATCH STATISTICS