RINDGE, N.H. (2/18/23) – The Franklin Pierce women's lacrosse team fell in their 2023 season opener against non-conference opponent No.11 Mercy College, 17-9 on Saturday afternoon at Sodexo Field.  

With the loss, Pierce women's lacrosse opens their new campaign 0-1, while the Mavericks start out 1-0 with the victory. Mercy additionally moves to 2-0 all-time against the Ravens.

Mercy wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, tallying four-straight goals to start the game. However, the Ravens responded with a trio of goals in under two minutes, two of which came on free position attempts by junior Kayli Hoefs (Amsterdam, N.Y.) and freshman newcomer Maura Cogavin (Franklin, Mass.) The first of the three goals belonged to sophomore Hayley Hermsdorf (Center Moriches, N.Y.), unassisted. Pierce would end the quarter trailing the Mavericks, 6-3.

Mercy decided they were not satisfied with their current advantage entering the second quarter, and would extend their lead to 9-3 with a three unanswered goals within a 1:30 span. In need of a spark, Franklin Pierce finally broke through with 5:49 left in the frame when senior midfielder Katelyn Hadden (Newburyport, Mass.) capitalized on another free position attempt. However, the goal would come as the only tally of the quarter for the Ravens, who entered halftime down 10-4.

For Peirce, things only got more out of control to begin the second half, as Mercy plowed ahead to a 14-4 lead following another four unanswered goals. As was the case in the second quarter, the Ravens were once again only able to convert for one goal through the third, which would come off the stick of senior attacker Gabrielle Oswald (Nedrow, N.Y), unassisted. Mercy would add one more to the score before heading into the final stanza.

Trailing 15-5 in the fourth quarter, the Ravens offense exploded for four-straight markers over a four minute stretch, including another pair of goals from Hayley Hermsdorf.  However, Mercy would get the last word in with the contest's final two goals, which ultimately proved to be the difference in the 17-9 loss.

Senior goalkeeper Erin Blake (Southborough, Mass.) suffered the loss in goal for Pierce, stopping 4-of-14 shots faced through 30-minutes played during the contest. Sophomore Saige Paradise (Milford, N.H.) entered in relief for Blake, and stopped 6-of-13 through 23:26 played. Mercy's Olivia Maute (1-0) claimed the win for the Mavericks, stopping 3-of-7 shots, while relief netminder Olivia LaMonica entered and surrendered goals to all five shots faced.
 
Senior Katelyn Hadden led the way for Pierce with a goal and two assists, additionally contributing seven groundballs and four caused turnovers.

Women's Lacrosse will return to Sodexo Field for game number two of a six-game introductory homestand for the 2023 season, and will face-off against The University of Colorado – Colorado Springs at 2:00 p.m.