MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Southern New Hampshire University field hockey team suffered a 3-2 setback at the hands of Franklin Pierce University at Larkin Field on Tuesday evening. The Penmen are now 1-8 overall and 0-3 in Northeast-10 Conference play, while the Ravens are 3-6 overall and 1-3 within the confines of the Northeast-10.

Junior Kaitlyn Ramsey (Warren, Mass.) and freshman Brianne Torre (Derry, N.H.) each tallied single goals for SNHU, while freshmen Mikeala Gauvain (Salem, N.H.) and Amaris Taylor (Tulsa, Okla.) recorded an assist apiece. Freshman Jill Piacitelli (East Greenwich, R.I.) totaled 23 saves in goal for the Penmen in just her second career start.

After Franklin Pierce senior Brittany Lepore (Barnstable, Mass.) opened the scoring just over eight and a half minutes into the first half, Ramsey took a feed from Gauvain and fired one home for her first career goal to knot the game at one.

The Ravens broke the deadlock just under two minutes later when sophomore Andrea Fahey (Hudson, Mass.) picked up her first goal of the season at the 16:48 mark. Senior Courtney Kelly (Plymouth, N.H.) pushed the Franklin Pierce advantage to a pair when she connected off a pass from Fahey to make it 3-1.

Southern New Hampshire freshman Brianne Torre (Derry, N.H.) brought the Penmen within a goal with 6:54 remaining in the first. Off a penalty corner, Taylor sent a pass to Torre, who collected her second goal of the season to cut the deficit to 3-2 at the half.

The score would prove to be final, as both goalkeepers pitched shutouts during the final 35 minutes of play. Piacitelli turned aside 13 shots in the second after kicking out 10 during the first. Her counterpart, Franklin Pierce freshman Meaghan Williams (Salem, N.H.), generated eight saves in the contest, including five in the second stanza for the victory. 

The Penmen continue their current homestand against Saint Michael's College on Saturday at 1 p.m. before hosting Adelphi University on Tuesday Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. The Ravens return to action on Saturday when they welcome Southern Connecticut State University to Sodexo Field for a 4 p.m. start.

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