Field Hockey Hosts Saint Michael’s Tuesday, Travels To No. 8 Bentley Saturday

Ravens look to build on last week’s pair of wins

Match 9 - Sept. 22, 2009
Rindge, N.H.
Saint Michael's (2-6, 0-1 NE-10 at
Franklin Pierce (3-5, 1-1 NE-10)
4 p.m. - Sodexo Field
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Match 10 - Sept. 26, 2009
Waltham, Mass.
Franklin Pierce (3-5, 1-1 NE-10) at
No. 8 Bentley (6-2, 1-0 NE-10)

Beth Haight and the Ravens host Saint Michael's on Tuesday afternoon.

The Franklin Pierce University field hockey team will try for its third consecutive victory on Tuesday afternoon, when it plays host to Saint Michael’s in a non-conference contest at 4 p.m. at Sodexo Field. Later this week, the Ravens will hit the road for a 1 p.m. Northeast-10 Conference game at No. 8 nationally ranked Bentley on Saturday.

Tuesday afternoon’s home game will be broadcast live on the Ravens Sports Network at WFPC-LP 105.3 FM and online at athletics.franklinpierce.edu.

Franklin Pierce (3-5, 1-1 Northeast-10) chalked up back-to-back wins for the first time in 2009 last week. First, on Wednesday afternoon, the Ravens traveled to Saint Anselm for a non-conference contest and came away with a 3-1 win behind a pair of goals from sophomore forward Tia Levins (Manchester, Maine). On Saturday afternoon, Franklin Pierce picked up its first Northeast-10 win of the year with a 4-1 triumph at home over American International, which was keyed by a pair of goals from sophomore midfielder Kimberly Jaksina (Townsend, Mass.).

For Levins, Wednesday afternoon marked her first collegiate start and the first two goals of her career. She also added the game-winning goal on Saturday against AIC. Jaksina’s two goals on Saturday gave her the first multiple-goal game of her career. Meanwhile, freshman midfielder Alyssa Juszczyk (Warren, Mass.) registered an assist on Saturday for her first career point. Sophomore goalkeeper Brittany Nyzio (Attleboro, Mass.) stopped six of eight shots on her cage over the two games to record her first two wins in a Franklin Pierce uniform after transferring in from La Salle.

Picked to finish fifth in the Northeast-10, Saint Michael’s (2-6, 0-1 Northeast-10) is in the midst of a four-game losing skid after splitting its first four contests of the season. Most recently, No. 5 nationally ranked Stonehill used three goals from Claire Hourihan to buzz past Saint Michael’s, 6-0, in Northeast-10 play at Stonehill on Saturday. Junior goalkeeper Meghan McLaughlin made eight saves in defeat for Saint Anselm.

On the season, senior midfielder Kaitlin Koffink leads the way for the Purple Knights with four goals for eight points, while sophomore midfielder Taylor Wahrenbrock (two goals) and junior Natalie Elvidge (one goal, two assists) have each tallied four points. McLaughlin has played every minute in front of the cage for Saint Michael’s and brings a 2-5-0 record with a 3.38 goals-against average and one shutout into Tuesday afternoon’s contest.

Last time against Saint Michael’s, Andrea Slaven scored the only goal of the game on Oct. 22, 2008 to lead the Purple Knights to a 1-0 victory over Franklin Pierce in Northeast-10 Conference play at Sodexo Field. Kristin Tormollan made 12 saves for Franklin Pierce in defeat. Jordan Smalling stopped all five shots on her cage to earn the shutout for Saint Michael’s.

Franklin Pierce holds a 3-12 record in 15 all-time meetings against Saint Michael’s, with all three victories coming in Rindge. The Purple Knights have won each of the last five meetings between the two teams, as well as seven of the last eight. The most recent victory for the Ravens in the series came on Sept. 19, 2006, a 2-1 decision at Sodexo Field. In that game Jenee Clifford scored the game-winner for Franklin Pierce with just 1:58 to play in regulation. Trisha Slowinski notched the other Ravens goal on a feed from current assistant coach Stephanie Howard, while Andrea Slaven scored the lone goal of the game for Saint Michael’s. Amanda Pietraszuk made five saves to earn the win for Franklin Pierce.

Picked to finish second in the Northeast-10, Bentley (6-2, 1-0 Northeast-10) has won each of its last five contests after opening the season 1-2. Most recently, senior midfielder Courtney Bartlett scored a goal and assisted on another to lead the Falcons to a 2-1 win at Assumption in their first Northeast-10 action of the year. Senior goalkeeper Alyssa Sliney made one save to earn the win for Bentley. Bentley will play at Stonehill on Tuesday night before hosting Franklin Pierce on Saturday.

On the season, sophomore midfielder Stephanie Sideris leads Bentley with 15 points on six goals and three assists, while Bartlett has chalked up 12 points of her own on five goals and two assists. Sliney has played every second between the pipes for the Falcons and currently owns a 6-2-0 record, a 1.33 goals-against average and two shutouts.

Last time against Bentley, Nicole Murphy converted on a penalty stroke 5:58 into overtime on Oct. 14, 2008 to lead then-No. 6 nationally ranked Bentley to a 2-1 victory over Franklin Pierce in Northeast-10 Conference play at Sodexo Field. Ashley Moirano scored the lone goal of the game for Franklin Pierce.

Franklin Pierce holds a 1-15 record in 16 all-time meetings with Bentley and the Falcons have won each of the last five contests, though two have gone to overtime. The only win in the series for the Ravens came on Oct. 1, 2005, a 3-2 overtime victory at Sodexo Field. Mary Beth Huszar scored the winner 2:52 into the extra session, while Clifford and Trisha Langevin also scored for Franklin Pierce. Kristen Allen and Cristina Sergi found the back of the cage for Bentley.

After the pair of games this week, the Ravens return to the field on Wednesday, Sept. 30, when they return home to host Assumption in a Northeast-10 Conference contest. Game time is set for 4 p.m. at Sodexo Field in Rindge.