Women’s Soccer Uses Three-Goal Second Half to Blitz No. 18 SNHU, 4-2

RINDGE, N.H. (September 24, 2019) – Senior midfielder Gabi Pereira (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) and senior forward Veronica Marques (Sao Paolo, Brazil) stole the show on Tuesday night at Sodexo Field, as the Franklin Pierce University women's soccer team broke out offensively on the way to a 4-2 win over No. 18 nationally ranked Southern New Hampshire. Both had two goals apiece, while Pereira added an assist as well, as the Ravens took care of their intrastate rival in the Northeast-10 Conference affair.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 3-3-0 (2-2-0 NE10), while Southern New Hampshire falls to 4-2-0 (2-2-0 NE10).

The Ravens controlled the run of play throughout the night in the matchup of the last two NE10 champions. Franklin Pierce ran up advantages of 18-9 in shot attempts -- including 12-4 in the second half -- and 11-3 in shots on goal on the way to the two-goal victory.

Things started on an ominous note for the crimson and grey though, as a 28^th-minute own goal gave SNHU a 1-0 lead. After the Penmen served the ball towards the goal mouth, it came out off of sophomore goalkeeper Casey Kane (Millis, Mass.) and to Pereira near the top of the six-yard box. Pereira attempted to control in order to clear, but the ball took a hop which resulted in her ultimately brushing it into her own net to put the Penmen on the board.

Pereira would redeem herself less than four minutes later at the other end of the field, in the 32^nd minute. Standing over a free kick from mere feet outside the top of the penalty area to the right of the arc, Pereira blistered a shot towards the top-center of the goal. The blast easily beat SNHU sophomore goalkeeper Hannah Rose upstairs for Pereira's second score of the season.

The remainder of the night's offense would come in the second half. In the 52^nd minute, the Ravens earned a penalty kick, which Marques slotted into the right side of the goal. Her second score of the year gave Franklin Pierce a lead it would never relinquish.

The Ravens pushed the lead out to 3-1 in the 70^th minute, after freshman forward Keyla Gonzalez Jaen (San Jose, Costa Rica) corralled a loose ball and kept it in play along the end line to the right-wing side of the goal. She touched the ball back to Pereira near the top of the six-yard box, in front of the right post, and the latter quickly deposited her second goal of the night into the left side of the goal.

Another insurance marker in the 77^th minute made it a 4-1 lead. Pereira notched an assist this time, as she played the ball to Marques in the left side of the box. Marques opted for the deft touch this time, as she chipped a shot over Rose and in to complete her own two-goal night.

SNHU cut the final gap to 4-2 with a goal in the 88^th minute. Sophomore forward Sydney Carney sent the ball past the back line and into the right side of the penalty area for junior midfielder Allyson Patterson. It was a quick, low shot for Patterson from there to notch her fifth goal of the campaign.

Kane (2-1-0) finished with one save against three shots on goal to pick up the win in the Franklin Pierce net. Rose (4-2-0) put together a seven-save outing, although against 11 shots, in a losing effort at the other end of the field.

The Ravens return to the field on Monday, Sept. 30, when they remain home to host defending national champion Bridgeport in a non-conference contest. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Sodexo Field.

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 soccer apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' brand new online store (https://www.shopfpuravens.com).