Welcome, Hislop net first-half
doubles to lead Ravens to victory
RINDGE, N.H. (September 17,
2003) - Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 6 in this week's
National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas
Division II poll, remained perfect in Conference play with a 4-2
victory over Assumption College, ranked sixth in the region, in
Northeast-10 Conference women's soccer action at Crystal Field this
afternoon.
Junior All-American
Meghan Welcome (Haverhill,
Mass./Haverhill) and sophomore Laura
Hislop (Belfast, Northern Ireland) each netted two
first half goals as Franklin Pierce opened a 4-1 halftime advantage
and withstood a gallant second-half effort from Assumption to
extend its home unbeaten streak against New England opposition to
89 matches.
The Greyhounds kept the region's
top-ranked team at bay for most of the first half, but the Ravens
broke through in the 30th minute when Hislop beat two
defenders before unleashing a shot from the top of the 18-yard box
that beat Assumption sophomore goalkeeper Christine
Keenan (Bolton, Mass./Nashoba) to the upper left
corner of the net.
Franklin Pierce extended its lead
to 2-0 just over four minutes later when Welcome fired a shot that
deflected off Keenan and into the net at
33:38.
Assumption drew within one less
than three minutes later as sophomore Erin Faucher
(North Grosvernordale, Conn./Tourtellotte) broke down
the right side and chipped a shot over Ravens senior goalkeeper
Aase Kibsgaard (Korgen, Norway) for her
team-leading seventh goal of the season at 36:04.
The Ravens answered quickly as
Welcome netted what proved to be the match-winner in the
39th minute when she intercepted a poor goal kick and
lofted a shot over Keenan for her Conference-leading ninth marker
of the season.
Hislop rounded out the opening half
scoring with a spectacular individual effort, beating three
defenders before firing a shot just inside the box over Keenan at
41:29.
Assumption threw a scare into the
Ravens late as it began to gain momentum, which resulted in its
second goal of the match in the 85th minute. Faucher
sent a pass across the middle of the penalty area to senior Angela
Goncalves (Ludlow, Mass./Ludlow) who scored on her second touch.
Keenan finished the match with ten
saves for the Greyhounds, while Kibsgaard registered a save in 80
minutes of action before giving way to freshman Linnea
Authier (East Longmeadow, Mass./East Longmeadow) for
the final ten.
Franklin Pierce (5-1, 4-0 NE-10)
returns to action on Saturday when it hosts College of Saint Rose,
ranked fifth in the New England Region, at 2 p.m. Assumption (5-2,
2-2 NE-10) visits American International College on Saturday at 1
p.m.
MATCH
STATISTICS
