MANCHESTER, N.H. (November 5, 2019) – The no. 8 seeded Franklin Pierce University field hockey team's 2019 season came to an end with a 2-0 shutout loss to the no. 1 seed and no. 3 nationally-ranked Saint Anselm College Hawks Tuesday evening in the Northeast-10 Conference Quarterfinals at Grappone Stadium. With the win, the Hawks sky to 17-2 overall while the Ravens campaign ends at 8-11.

Franklin Pierce made their return to the conference tournament for the first time since 2011. This was their fifth all-time appearance in the league's postseason tournament and they still are looking for their first win (0-5).

The Hawks dominant run of NE10 programs continued as they added on to their goals for and goals against margin. SAC has now scored 58 goals against league opponents and have allowed only one in 15 conference contests.  

In the first quarter, the Ravens defensive unit held the Hawks potent offensive attack to only two shot attempts. 30-seconds into the game, Hannah Friend ripped one shot that was turned away by Raven starting goalkeeper Olivia Barnes (Greenwich, N.Y.). Pierce then would then cross midfield for the first time, but could not get any offense going.

Saint Anselm had two penalty corners in the opening stanza, but the crimson and grey stifled their counterparts twice clearing the zone both times. Following the intermission, Saint Anselm took seven shot attempts. They finally broke through in the 24th minute as Hannah Friend found teammate Michelle Lemelin for the score to put the home team ahead 1-0.

Barnes made three saves in the second quarter giving her four in the first half. FPU did not get any shots on net in the first half as the Hawks outshot them nine-to-zero.

Saint Anselm iced the game late in the fourth quarter when they were awarded a penalty stroke with 6:05 left to play following two saves by Barnes and another defensive save by senior Jessica Strassburg (Longmeadow, Mass). Avery Tucker took the free chance and buried the low left corner shot past a diving Barnes.

For Strassburg, it was the 11th defensive save of her final season and the 18th of her collegiate career. She currently holds the program record and ranks first out of 100 athletes in all of NCAA Division II with the 11 defensive stops. As a team, the Ravens also are the top program in Division II with 17 defensive saves.

Barnes took the loss and stopped nine shot attempts in the defeat. Julia Hand earned the shutout victory not facing a shot in the duel.

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).