Sacco, Van Doorn Star as Field Hockey Blasts Mercy, 5-1

RINDGE, N.H. (October 12, 2019) -- After a three-game hiatus, the offense for the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team exploded with three goals in the first quarter, en route to a 5-1 victory over the Mercy College Mavericks on Saturday evening. Sophomore back Julianne Sacco (Southborough, Mass.) led the way for the Ravens with her first career hat trick in the Northeast-10 Conference affair at Sodexo Field.

With the win, Franklin Pierce halts its losing streak at three games and improves to 5-7 (4-4 NE10), while Mercy falls to 3-6 (3-5 NE10).

Franklin Pierce staked out an early lead when sophomore forward Feline Van Doorn (Barendrecht, Netherlands) tipped home a goal in the fifth minute off a crossing feed from Allison Collins (Sandown, N.H.). Later in the quarter, in the 11^th minute, van Doorn struck again by swatting at the ball in mid-air and blasting it past Mercy sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Viscione for an unassisted goal, giving her five on the season.

Later in the quarter still, Sacco got involved after initiating play off a penalty corner attempt. She got a pass back from senior forward Jessica Greeley (Winslow, Maine) and deflected a shot off of a defender's foot and into the net just before the conclusion of the first quarter.

Sacco would score again early in the second quarter, in the 18^th minute, after another penalty corner, as she finished an easy look from right in front of the net off a pass from freshman forward Meghan Winn (Newburyport, Mass.).

In the first half, the crimson and grey dominated the run of play, out-shooting the Mavericks 13-4 and also ran up an 8-4 advantage in penalty corners.

Mercy would get on the board in the 37^th minute, as freshman Alyssa Sacco scored her second goal of the season, assisted by junior Brooke Anthony.

The Ravens rounded out the scoring and Julianne Sacco rounded out her hat trick in the 45^th minute, as she was once again able to tap home a wide-open opportunity off of a penalty corner. The assist on the play would come from van Doorn, who finished off a five-point day of her own (2-1-5).

Franklin Pierce finished with 22 shot attempts in the game, including 10 on goal. Viscione (3-6) finished with three saves, but allowed three goals, as she played the first and fourth quarters and was tagged with the loss. Sophomore Cydney Wolff played the second and third quarters for Mercy and allowed two goals while recording two saves.

Junior goalkeeper Olivia Barnes (Greenwich, N.Y) started and played a majority of the game in net for Franklin Pierce, as she recorded four saves on five shots on goal to pick up the win (5-7).

The Ravens will return to Sodexo Field on Tuesday, Oct. 15, when they host American International College at 4 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (https://www.fpuravens.com). 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' brand new online store (https://www.shopfpuravens.com).