Hughes, Hislop Start 
for Ireland in 0-0 Draw 
at Scotland
Ireland earns first points 
of World Cup qualifying campaign

PERTH, Scotland (September 26, 2005) – Franklin Pierce senior All-Americans Sonya Hughes (Balbriggan, Ireland) and Laura Hislop (Belfast, Northern Ireland) both started as the Republic of Ireland earned its first point in its World Cup qualification campaign with a 0-0 draw against Scotland at McDiarmid Park on Sunday.

            The Franklin Pierce pair both started the match, with Hughes playing the full 90-minutes and Hislop playing 60. The draw put Ireland in third place in the UEFA Group 4 standings behind Russia (9 pts in 4 matches) and World Cup Champions Germany (3 pts in one match). Ireland dropped its first qualification match at Russia in July and is now off until March 25, 2006 when it visits Switzerland.

            Franklin Pierce (6-1-1, 4-1-1 NE-10), ranked tenth in last week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll,  is back in action on Wednesday when it visits rival Merrimack College for a match at 7 p.m. Hughes and Hislop are expected to play for the Ravens.