No. 18 Women's Soccer Rallies to Sink No. 14 Franklin Pierce
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.- The Merrimack women's
soccer team pulled off a 3-2 win Wednesday night at Warrior Field.
The Warriors improve to 7-2-2 on the year and 7-1-1 in the
Northeast-10. The Ravens fall to 7-2-1 overall and 5-2-1 in the
conference this year.
The pitch was wet which made the ball move faster. This allowed
for a fast-paced match with much excitement.
Franklin Pierce netted the game's first goal midway through the
opening half. Tori Gikas played the ball over the Merrimack
backline, springing Shona Franklin on a breakaway. Franklin outran
the defenders and shot the ball into the right corner of the frame
for the 1-0 lead for the visitors.
With 12 minutes remaining in the first half, Jessica Peacock
(Hopedale, Mass.) stepped up to a free kick for the
Warriors. Peacock sent a swerving shot towards goal but Ravens'
goalkeeper Jocelyn Leon punched the ball over the crossbar.
Just five minutes later, Peacock latched onto the end of a free
kick from the right corner. Jessie DeGraan
(Braintree, Mass.) sent the ball into the box for Peacock
to send a glancing header into the far corner to knot the score at
1-1.
Three minutes after intermission, Kerri Domohowski
(Saugus, Mass.) controlled a loose ball in the center of
the box. Domohowski turned and fired the ball into the right corner
of the goal to give the home side its first lead of the day.
The Ravens tallied an equalizer with 20 minutes remaining in the
contest. Amanda Panaro took advantage of a rebound in front of
Merrimack's goal.
In the final 10 minutes of the match, Danielle Dion
(North Grosvenordale, Conn.) restored the Warrior lead
when her shot from the left flank was deflected into the goal.
Merrimack held the slight edge in shots, 16-13, in the match.
The Warriors fired 10 shots on goal while Franklin Pierce managed
six.
Kiley
Horne (Scituate, Mass.) turned aside four shots in the
match to earn her seventh win of the 2010 campaign. Leon made seven
saves between the pipes for the Ravens.
"Tonight's win was an incredible team effort. Everyone on the
pitch gave 100%," said head coach Gabe Mejail. "We really needed
this win tonight to boost our spirits after a tough week last
week."
