When and Where: February 27, 2019 – Rindge, N.H. (Sodexo Field)
Score: Franklin Pierce University 18, Southern New Hampshire University 12
Records: FPU 3-0 (2-0 NE10), SNHU 0-1 (0-1 NE10)

Senior Kristin Wilder (Framingham, Mass.) scored five goals, but the Southern New Hampshire University women's lacrosse team suffered an 18-12 loss to Franklin Pierce University in its season opener Wednesday at Sodexo Field.

STANDOUT PERFORMERS

• Wilder totaled six points, altogether, as she also recorded an assist.
• Freshman Kelsey Long (Woburn, Mass.) found the back of the net three times in her collegiate debut.
• Classmate Erin Gorton (Kennebunk, Maine) also notched three points with a goal and two assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Southern New Hampshire struck first just over five-and-a-half minutes in when Wilder found the back of the net. Franklin Pierce answered more than 30 seconds later and the back-and-forth was on.
• After junior Merry Harrington (Peabody, Mass.) put the Penmen on top, 3-2, with under 10 minutes remaining in the opening half, the Ravens scored back-to-back tallies to take their first lead of the contest at 4-3 with 7:47 left.
• Freshman Catherine Derhak (Londonderry, N.H.) tied it 1:10 later, with Wilder setting up fellow senior Mary Beth Sweeney (Foxborough, Mass.) just 15 seconds after that to leapfrog the Penmen back in front at 5-4. The seesaw battle continued with FPU scoring twice to go up, 6-5, with 3:28 left, but Gorton gained the equalizer, with Wilder striking just 24 seconds before the end of the half to send SNHU to the break with a 7-6 edge.
• Long opened the second-half scoring just over four minutes in, with Wilder answering a Franklin Pierce goal to maintain the two-score lead at 9-7 with 19:38 left.
• The Ravens then went on a seven-goal run – with four from Savannah Ernst – to break open a 14-9 lead with 10:29 to go. Wilder scored back-to-back goals 34 seconds apart to keep it close, but Franklin Pierce scored four of the final five goals to seal it.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Senior Leah Olansky (Bennington, Vt.) stopped seven of the 19 shots she faced over the opening 46:25, while freshman Hayle Ashford (Atkinson, N.H.) made one save over the final 13:25. Franklin Pierce goalkeeper Megan Bacik turned aside 13 of the 25 shots she faced.
• The Ravens held a 38-36 edge in shots, while the Penmen owned a 17-15 advantage in draw controls.
• FPU was 3-for-6 on its free-position opportunities, with SNHU going 3-for-10.

NOTES

• Wilder's five goals move her to within one of tying the program's all-time record of 190 goals.
• Harrington's goal was the 53^rd of her career.

WHAT'S NEXT

• The Penmen return to action Saturday, March 2 (11 a.m.) when they take on 10^th-ranked Mercy College.
• SNHU opens its home slate Saturday, March 9 (1 p.m.) when it plays host to Dominican (N.Y.) College.

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