Raposa scores twice and collects three ground balls

WORCESTER, Mass. (April 5, 2014) – Junior attack Megan Raposa (Tiverton, R.I.) and sophomore attack Nicole Beliveau (Westfield, Mass.) scored twice each on Saturday afternoon, but the Franklin Pierce University women's lacrosse team suffered a 14-7 defeat on the road against Assumption in Northeast-10 Conference play at Multi-Sport Stadium. Freshman midfielder Tori Russo tallied five points on four goals and an assist in the victory for Assumption.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 3-6 (2-5 Northeast-10), while Assumption improves to 8-3 (6-2 Northeast-10). Assumption scored on all five free-position shots it took, which proved to be a decided advantage as Franklin Pierce netted just one free-position goal.

Otherwise, the game played fairly even, as Franklin Pierce held a 30-27 advantage in shot attempts, while Assumption had a 22-20 edge in shots on goal. The Ravens forced Assumption into 14 turnovers while committing just nine of their own. Draw controls, which have been a problem of late for Franklin Pierce, were not lopsided, though Assumption held a 14-9 advantage.

Assumption opened the game with back-to-back free-position goals 8:49 and 11:58 into the game, setting the tone for the afternoon, as junior attack Camille Auger and junior attack Amy McNeil found the back of the net. The Ravens evened the game at 2-2 with 9:48 to play in the first half after goals from junior attack Madeline Shopshire (Hyannis, Mass.) and sophomore midfielder Lauren Beville (Jamesville, N.Y.).

The Greyhounds scored four of the final five goals of the first half to take a 6-3 lead into the intermission. Russo scored her first goal in the run, while McNeil added another goal and an assist. Raposa scored her first of the day on a free-position attempt for the lone Franklin Pierce score in the spurt.

Beliveau put home a shot 83 seconds into the second half to make it a 6-4 game, before three straight Assumption goals pushed the lead to 9-4. Russo scored twice to open her three-goal second half and sophomore midfielder Molly Brown finished on a free-position attempt.

After a goal from junior attack Geena Franciosi (South Easton, Mass.) made it 9-5, Assumption put the game on ice with a 5-1 run over a span of 21:15. Senior midfielder Kathryn Beall had three goals, including a free-position score, while senior attack Lindsay Hagerman had a goal and an assist. Beliveau's second of the day provided the lone answer for Franklin Pierce. Raposa tacked on a goal with 12 seconds to play to create the 14-7 final.

Sophomore goalkeeper Julia Coakley (Bridgewater, Mass.) started, played the first 48:47 and made eight saves against 20 shots on goal while taking the loss (3-6). Freshman Denise Hunt (Hull, Mass.) did not make a save against two shots over the remaining 11:13. Freshman Jaclyn Chirco made 13 saves at the other end to pick up the win (8-3) in net for Assumption.

The Ravens return to the field on Tuesday, April 8, when they return home to host Saint Michael's in a Northeast-10 Conference contest. Game time is set for 4 p.m. at Sodexo Field in Rindge.

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). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce women's lacrosse apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).