Hughes, Hislop lead Ravens to 15th
consecutive season-opening victory
RINDGE, N.H. (August 30,
2004) - Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 1 in the National
Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II
preseason poll, claimed its 15th-straight season opening
victory with a 3-0 decision over No. 25 Texas A&M-Commerce in
non-conference women's soccer action on the Franklin Pierce Upper
Field this afternoon.
Junior All-American
Laura Hislop (Belfast, Northern Ireland),
the reigning Division II Player of the Year, and classmate
Sonya Hughes (Balbriggan, Ireland) led
the Franklin Pierce attack with and goal and assist each. The win
gives the Ravens revenge for a 2-0 setback to A&M-Commerce last
season in
Texas.
Of the Ravens 15-straight season
opening victories, 11 have been by shutout, including the last
three consecutive.
Texas A&M-Commerce controlled
the early portion of the match and had the first good scoring
opportunity when Franklin Pierce committed a foul just outside the
penalty area in the fourth minute. However, the Tiffany
Adams (Haysville, Kan./Campus) free kick was well off
the mark.
The Ravens took control from there
and broke through with its first goal of the season in the
36th minute when junior Elizabeth Allen
(Durham, N.H./Oyster River) headed in a Hislop corner
kick at the far post.
Hislop gave the Ravens a two-goal
cushion 6:15 into the second half when she worked a give-and-go
with Hughes and fired a low shot into the right corner. Hughes
rounded out the scoring in the 58th minute with an
unassisted tally in which she got her own rebound of a saved shot
and fired it into the back of the net.
The shutout marked a successful
debut for freshman goalkeeper Jenna Mello (Londonderry,
N.H./Londonderry) who was called on for one
first-half save in the contest.
Lions sophomore goalkeeper
Stacy McDaniel (Houston, Texas/Stratford)
matched her career-best with nine saves, which she established in
last year's victory over Franklin Pierce, but was handed her first
career loss.
Franklin Pierce (1-0) returns to
action on Saturday when it hosts Holy Family College at 1 p.m.
Texas A&M-Commerce (1-1) hosts Ouachita Baptist on Friday at 3
p.m. (CDT).
MATCH
STATISTICS
