#8 Franklin Pierce Slogs Past 
UMass Lowell, 2-0
Hislop leads Ravens back into first place 
with goal and assist

RINDGE, N.H. (October 8, 2005) – Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 8 in this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, used a pair of goals off set pieces to collect a 2-0 victory over No. 19 UMass Lowell in Northeast-10 Conference women’s soccer action at Sodexho Field this afternoon. Today’s match was originally scheduled to be played in Lowell, Mass., but was moved to Franklin Pierce’s artificial surface pitch due to the heavy rains throughout the northeast.

            The win moves Franklin Pierce back into first place in the Northeast-10 standings with 25 points. The Ravens are a point ahead of UMass Lowell (24 pts) and two ahead of No. 3-ranked Assumption College (23 pts) who had its key match today at Bryant University postponed. The Greyhounds do 

have a game in hand on both the Ravens and River Hawks.

            Senior All-American Laura Hislop (Belfast, Northern Ireland) played a role in both Franklin Pierce goals, both of which came off set pieces, with a goal and assist. The Ravens out-shot UMass Lowell, 7-3, as constant rain pounded the playing surface.

            Hislop opened the scoring in the 27^th minute when she curled a free kick from 21-yards out in the right channel just inside the left post at 26:54. Freshman back Rebecca Westbury (Northbridge, Mass./Northbridge) one-timed a side-footed shot off a Hislop corner kick at the far post to put the Ravens up a pair at 37:27.            

Sophomore Jenna Mello (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry), largely untested on the afternoon, made one save off a weak shot early in the first half to preserve her fourth shutout of the season (11^th career). Freshman Jennifer Cole (Dracut, Mass./Dracut) finished with three stops for the River Hawks.

            Neither side produced much on offense in the second half with each team registering two shots. Cole steered the best chance in the stanza past the left post off a bending shot from Franklin Pierce junior Alex Scavo (Toronto, Ontario/Brother Andre) 7:41 into the second.

            Franklin Pierce (10-1-1, 8-1-1 NE-10) is back in action on Tuesday when it hosts Bentley College on Tuesday at 7 p.m. UMass Lowell (11-3, 8-2 NE-10) hosts the College of Saint Rose for a key match on Monday at 2:30 p.m.

MATCH STATISTICS