Williams makes 10 saves

RINDGE, N.H. (September 20, 2014) – Junior forward Erika Kelly, who set a Northeast-10 single-season record for goals a year ago, scored twice and added an assist for No. 5 nationally ranked Stonehill on Saturday afternoon as the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team suffered a 4-1 defeat in non-conference play at Sodexo Field. Senior forward Courtney Kelly (Plymouth, N.H.) scored the lone goal for the Ravens in their home opener.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 2-2 (0-1 Northeast-10), while Stonehill improves to 5-0 (0-0 Northeast-10). The two teams will meet again for their Northeast-10 Conference contest on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at W.B. Mason Stadium in Easton, Mass.

Stonehill, the Northeast-10 runner-up and a national quarterfinalist a year ago, wasted no time on Saturday afternoon, as the Skyhawks struck thrice in the first 14 minutes to open a 3-0 lead they would never relinquish. They got things started in the aftermath of a corner play in the seventh minute. The initial parry towards goal was fought off by the Franklin Pierce defense, but a scramble ensued on the rebound. Stonehill sophomore midfielder Shea Healy was the first to track down the ball and put away her second goal of the season.

Erika Kelly got the first of her two goals, her seventh in the season's first five games, on an individual effort in the 10th minute. Entering the circle from the left-wing side, Kelly deked around the Franklin Pierce defender in the area and then beat freshman goalkeeper Meaghan Williams (Salem, N.H.) inside the left post.

Erika Kelly added a helper in the 14th minute to cap the 3-0 Stonehill spurt to open the game. With the ball and space to work with along the endline on the left-wing side, she sent a cross into the goalmouth. Standing in front of the cage, freshman forward Alexandria Sylvia was able to get her stick on the pass and redirect it home for her third goal of the season.

The game would go without another goal until the 56th minute, when Erika Kelly finished her double and pushed the Stonehill lead as high as 4-0. Amid another goalmouth scramble, the whistle sounded to award Stonehill a penalty stroke. Kelly stood over the ball and flipped it past Williams high on the left side for her team-leading eighth goal of the campaign.

Franklin Pierce got on the board to create the 4-1 final in the 65th minute on Courtney Kelly's second goal of the year. The goal came in transition, as junior forward Vanessa LeBlanc (Salisbury, Mass.) stepped into the circle on the right-wing side, wound and blasted a shot. Stonehill sophomore goalkeeper Dana Dhami got a piece of the shot, but the rebound snuck behind her. Kelly was the first to get there and finished it off to get the Ravens on the board.

Stonehill controlled play for most of the afternoon, to the tune of advantages of 22-5 in shot attempts, 15-2 in shots on goal and 9-3 in penalty corners. Williams finished with 10 saves between the pipes for Franklin Pierce, but suffered the loss (2-2) anyway, while sophomore back Shannon O'Leary (Florence, Mass.) notched her second defensive save in as many games. At the other end of the field, senior goalkeeper Elizabeth Genovese logged the first 61:30 in net for Stonehill and was not forced to make a save while picking up the win (5-0). Dhami played the final 8:30 and made one save against two shots on goal.

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, Sept. 27, when they travel to Saint Michael's for a non-conference contest. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. at Duffy Field in Colchester, Vt. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on Saturday, Oct. 11 against Mercy at 1 p.m.

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). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce field hockey apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).