Talita Pereira scores a goal for the fourth-consecutive match

RINDGE, N.H. (October 20, 2012) – The Franklin Pierce University women's soccer team won its third-straight match on Saturday as the Ravens scored early and cruised home for a 2-1 triumph over Pace at Sodexo Field in Rindge. Franklin Pierce improved to 9-5-2 overall and 8-5-1 in the Northeast-10, while the Setters fell to 5-8-3 and 5-7-1 in league play.

The Ravens scored twice in the early stages of the match and fought off a valiant comeback by Pace in the second half to seal the victory.

Freshman forward Hannah Weagle (Ipswich, Mass.), who was the offensive catalyst for the Ravens in the match with a goal and assist, got the scoring started in the 12^th minute when she collected a loose ball deep in the right corner and sent a high arching shot towards the net which evaded the Pace keeper and dropped in the upper left corner for a 1-0 Franklin Pierce lead.

It was Weagle's team-leading 11^th marker of the season and snapped her five-match scoring drought.

Weagle sparked the Ravens next goal, which came in the 26^th minute, as she stepped in front of a failed clear by a Pace defender, took one dribble and lobbed a pass into the box which junior forward Talita Pereira (Sao Paulo, Brazil) was able to chip in to the upper right corner of the net to stake Franklin Pierce to the two-goal advantage.

It was Pereira's ninth of the season and marked the fourth-consecutive match she scored at least one goal. Weagle picked up an assist on the play for her team-high 26^th point of the campaign.

Franklin Pierce held a commanding 12-2 advantage in shots in the first 45 minutes, but the Setters reversed the pace of play in the second half as they outshot the Ravens by a 10-4 margin.

Pace finally broke through with a goal in the 90^th minute when Olivia Mapplethorpe chipped in a short shot, but it was too little too late as the Ravens held on for the victory.

Senior goalkeeper Lauren Brewer (Westford, Mass.) got the start in net and made one save to earn the win to run her mark to 2-1 on the season. Courtany Hagen started in goal for the Setters, and despite making four saves, was saddled with the loss to fall to 5-8-2 on the year.

Franklin Pierce has a mid-week bye, but returns to action next Saturday when the Ravens travel to Springfield, Mass. to face American International at 1 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce women's soccer, please visit the team's page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.) To follow the program even further, please visit Franklin Pierce Athletics on YouTube (www.youtube.com/FranklinPierceSports), Twitter (www.twitter.com/FPUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce women's soccer apparel can do so on the athletic department's brand new online store at athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store(.)