Ranieri scores twice in Greyhound field hockey win over Saint Michael's, 4-1

October 4, 2007

ASSUMPTION 4, SAINT MICHAEL'S 2

WORCESTER, Mass. --- Sophomore forward SARAH RANIERI (Bellingham, MA/Bellingham) (PICTURED RIGHT) found the perfect way to celebrate her 20th birthday--score two goals and record an assist--as Assumption College defeated Saint Michael's College, 4-2, in a Northeast-10 Conference field hockey game THURSDAY at the Multi-Sports Stadium.

The Greyhounds, who have won four of their last six games, are now 6-7 overall and 4-6 in the conference situated in fifth place. With six games remaining in conference action they are in prime position to grab one of six playoff slots.

Assumption stormed to a 3-1 first-half advantage scoring three times in the first 22 minutes.

Ranieri scored her fifth goal of the season at 4:49 on a nice feed from senior midfielder JESSICA KEEFE (Mansfield, MA/Mansfield). Keefe's pass came from the right wing and Ranieri's shot found the lower left side of the net.

At 12:32, sophomore midfielder MICHELLE PASQUALE (Shrewsbury, MA/Shrewsbury) scored her third goal of the season off a penalty corner. Sophomore forward HILLARY ZYSK (Walpole, MA/Walpole) passed the ball to senior midfielder JENNA LUCE (Conway, MA/Frontier Regional) at the top of the circle, who then found Pasquale for the goal. Senior forward SARAH BULLOCK (Chelmsford, MA/Chelmsford) added her sixth goal of the season at 21:23 off a pass from Ranieri to make it 3-0.

Saint Michael's got on the scoreboard as senior midfielder HANNAH WOLFE (Bow, NH/Bow) scored off a penalty corner at 30:38. Senior forward BRITTANY O'BRIEN (Stowe, VT/Stowe) was credited with the assist.

The teams traded goals in the first five minutes of the second half.

Ranieri scored her sixth goal of the season getting the ball off a defensive save and firing a shot into the high right side of the net at 39:31. The Purple Knights answered as sophomore midfielder KAITLIN KOFFINK (Goffstown, NH/Goffstown) scored her fourth goal of the season off a rebound 14 seconds later.

Saint Michael's outshot the Greyhounds, 16-15, however Assumption did hold a significant 16-7 advantage in penalty corners.

Senior goalkeeper KAITLIN BURKE (Falmouth, MA/Falmouth) registered the win in net for the Greyhounds with 10 saves. Junior keeper JORDAN SMALLING (Essex Junction, VT/Essex) had four saves for the Purple Knights.

The Greyhounds are at Saint Anselm College in another crucial Northeast-10 Conference game with playoff implications SATURDAY at 11 .m. Assumptino defeated the Hawks 2-1 in an overtime non-conference game September 6. Saint Michael's is now 3-9 overall and 3-7 in conference action.

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