Senior forward scores twice, assists on Jaksina goal

MANCHESTER, N.H. (September 2, 2011) – Senior forward Danielle Dolan (West Brookfield, Mass.) scored twice, including the game-winner, and assisted on another goal to garner five points on Friday afternoon to lead the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team to a 3-2 road win over Saint Anselm in non-conference action at Grappone Stadium. The two goals allowed Dolan to equal her goal-scoring total from a year ago on the first day of the season.

The game was the season-opening game for both squads, as Franklin Pierce improves to 1-0 (0-0 Northeast-10), while Saint Anselm falls to 0-1 (0-0 Northeast-10). The two teams will play their Northeast-10 Conference contest on Oct. 4 at Sodexo Field in Rindge.

Dolan fired the season's opening salvo just over 23 minutes into the campaign. After the ball was sent towards the front of the cage from the left wing, Dolan had her initial shot stopped, but collected the rebound and sent it to the back of the cage to give the Ravens a 1-0 lead.

However, the lead would be short-lived, as Saint Anselm found the answer just 2:25 later, when senior midfielder Morgan Seney put home a pass from senior forward Stephanie Chaisson.

Franklin Pierce would reclaim the one-goal advantage before the opening half expired. With just under two minutes to play in the stanza, a play developed off a penalty corner which saw Dolan pass the ball to senior midfielder Kim Jaksina (Townsend, Mass.) at the top of the circle. Jaksina wound, fired and blasted a shot that found its way through a crowd and thudded into the backboard to give the Ravens a 2-1 lead.

The Ravens extended the lead to 3-1 just over five minutes into the second half. This time, it was junior midfielder Megan Bird (Laconia, N.H.) who found herself with the ball at the top of the circle. She wound and sent a shot wide of the right post, in the direction of Dolan. Dolan got her stick to the ball for a mid-air deflection, which sent the ball behind Saint Anselm junior goalkeeper Megan Sullivan and into the cage. For Dolan, it marked the second two-goal game of her career, with the other coming at home against Southern Connecticut State on Sept. 30, 2008.

Saint Anselm created the 3-2 final with a goal just over seven minutes after Dolan's second tally. Freshman midfielder Bridget Davis sent a long pass around the last defender from the midfield. The pass found the stick of junior forward Kristina Katsikis, who put home her first goal of the season.

Senior goalkeeper Brittany Nyzio (Attleboro, Mass.) made nine saves against 11 shots to pick up the win (1-0) in front of the cage for Franklin Pierce. The victory extended her program record for most career wins (17). Sullivan stopped six of the nine shots sent her way and took the loss (0-1) between the pipes for Saint Anselm.

Both teams were active offensively, as Saint Anselm finished with a 21-16 edge in shots, including an 11-9 margin in shots on goal. Franklin Pierce was awarded eight penalty corners to six for Franklin Pierce.

The Ravens return to the field on Tuesday, Sept. 6, when they hold their home opener against Adelphi in a non-conference contest. Game time is set for 4 p.m. at Sodexo Field in Rindge.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics).