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Senior scores first four goals of her career

RINDGE, N.H. (September 29, 2010) – Senior midfielder Kayla Simeone (North Kingstown, R.I.) set a school record with four goals and added an assist to total a program-record nine points on Wednesday night and lead the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team to an 8-2 victory over Saint Anselm in non-conference play at Sodexo Field. The eight goals for the team set a new school record in that category, as well.

With the victory, Franklin Pierce improves to 3-4 (1-0 Northeast-10), while Saint Anselm falls to 0-6 (0-0 Northeast-10).

The Ravens would score early and often on the evening, though Simeone picked up an assist on the first goal before beginning her own goal-scoring barrage. Less than 90 seconds into the game, she fed the ball into the circle from the right side. Her pass found senior forward Ashley Moirano (Vero Beach, Fla.), who turned and fired a shot that found the back of the cage for her first goal of the season.

Just under 15 minutes later, Simeone found the cage herself, as she took a shot from the middle of the circle which deflected off the defense and in to give Franklin Pierce a 2-0 lead. It was the first goal of Simeone's career, but only the beginning of her night. Later, with less than four minutes to play until halftime, junior forward Tia Levins (Manchester, Maine) knocked home a rebound for her team-leading seventh goal of the season to give the Ravens a 3-0 lead heading into the halftime break.

Franklin Pierce picked up right where it left off after the break, with Simeone putting one home from the top-right of the circle for her second of the game just 1:51 into the second half.

From there, Saint Anselm would temporarily make things interesting, as junior forwards Sara Sterling and Stephanie Chaisson found the back of the cage less than 10 minutes apart to close the gap to 4-2. First, senior midfielder Ellen O'Neil slipped a pass through a gathering of players in front of the net to Sterling, who knocked home her second goal of the season. Later, Chaisson finished her first goal of the season at the left post off a pass from senior forward Kristina Katsikis.

After the Chaisson goal, the Ravens would reply with four goals over the final 12 minutes to create the 8-2 final, beginning with the first goal of the season for junior midfielder Kim Jaksina (Townsend, Mass.), who scored on a penalty stroke.

Next, Simeone completed the hat trick with her third goal of the game by burying a pass from freshman midfielder Julie Hemphill (Clarkston, Mich.), who fed the ball into the slot from the left wing.

After Levins put home another rebound for her second goal of the game, Simeone capped the scoring with her fourth goal of the contest with 2:11 to play. Her shot came from the top-right area of the circle and ticked off a defender at the goal line before it entered the cage.

When all was said and done, Simeone set two school records on the evening and led the team to a record-setting offensive outburst. The four goals scored by her broke a school record previously held by four players who had once scored three goals in a game. Simeone's nine points on the night also set a program record, previously held by five players who had collected six points in a game. As a team, Franklin Pierce had scored six goals in a game on three separate occasions, a mark which was eclipsed by Wednesday's eight-goal output.

The Ravens dominated the run of play on the evening, to the tune of a 36-13 advantage in shots, which included a 20-6 shots advantage in the second half, as well as a 25-5 edge in shots on goal over the course of the match. Saint Anselm held a 10-8 edge in penalty corners.

Junior goalkeeper Rachel Baxter (Cumberland, R.I.) made three saves against five shots on her cage to pick up the win (1-0) for Franklin Pierce. Meanwhile, sophomore Megan Sullivan turned aside 17 shots, but would take the loss (0-5) in net for Saint Anselm.

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, Oct. 2, when they remain home to host American International in a non-conference contest. Game time is set for 1 p.m. on Breast Cancer Awareness Day at Sodexo Field.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). 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).