#10 Franklin Pierce Tops 
Stonehill For First 
Home Win, 3-1
Hislop figures in all three Raven goals, 
heads for World Cup qualifying next

RINDGE, N.H. (September 21, 2005) – Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 10 in this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, scored three unanswered goals in posting a 3-1 victory over Stonehill College, ranked fifth in the New England region, in Northeast-10 Conference women’s soccer action at Sodexho Field this afternoon.

            Senior All-American Laura Hislop (Belfast, Northern Ireland) again led Franklin Pierce as she played a role in all three markers, netting two and adding an assist. She and fellow senior All-American Sonya Hughes (Balbriggan, Ireland), who registered a goal and assist today, are now scheduled to travel to the United Kingdom to participate in the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualifier at Scotland on Sunday (9 a.m. EDT).

            Franklin Pierce fell behind for the fifth time in eight matches this season as Stonehill struck just 11-seconds into the match. Sophomore Lauren Boyd (Sandwich, Mass./Sandwich) scored both the fastest goal in program and Sodexho Field history when she took a feed from senior Kate McCarthy (North Easton, Mass./Oliver Ames) and broke in one-on-one with Raven sophomore goalkeeper Jenna Mello (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) and deposited a low shot into the lower right corner.            

Franklin Pierce nearly equalized in the 14^th minute, but junior back Alex Scavo’s (Toronto, Ontario/Brother Andre) far post header off a Hislop corner kick was headed off the line by Stonehill sophomore Hilary Eckhardt (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield).

            Hislop eventually equalized for Franklin Pierce at the 16:40-mark when Hughes sent her off on a break with a through ball from the back. Hislop sidestepped the goalkeeper before depositing a shot into the lower right corner of the open net. Hughes put the Ravens up for good less than seven minutes later. Hislop crossed the ball on the deck from the left side to junior Leanne Bowler (Clonalvy, Ireland), who layed the ball back to Hughes for a chip into the upper right corner at 23:02.

            Hislop netted Franklin Pierce’s insurance goal in the 80^th minute when she gathered a loose ball, beat two Stonehill defenders before chipping the ball inside the box to the top shelf.

            Mello made two saves in posting the win in goal for the Ravens, while sophomore Alex Eckhardt (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) registered eight stops for the Skyhawks.

            Franklin Pierce (6-1-1, 4-1-1 NE-10) is off until next Wednesday when it visits rival Merrimack College at 7 p.m. PLEASE NOTE THE TIME CHANGE IN THIS MATCH Stonehill (5-1-1, 3-1-1 NE-10) visits Southern Connecticut State University on Saturday in a key Conference match at 4 p.m.

MATCH STATISTICS