Blaisdell goal lifts men's soccer past Stonehill; Ranieri goal leads field hockey past Franklin Pierce!

September 13, 2008

MEN'S SOCCER: Assumption 4, Stonehill 3

FIELD HOCKEY: Assumption 1, Franklin Pierce 0

WORCESTER, Mass. --- Sophomore forward STEPHEN BLAISDELL (Peabody, MA/Peabody) scored 9:25 into the first overtime period as Assumption College stopped Stonehill College, 4-3, in a Northeast-10 Conference men's soccer game here SATURDAY at the Multi-Sport Stadium.

Meanwhile in Rindge, NH, junior forward SARAH RANIERI (Bellingham, MA/Bellingham) scored with just 2:44 left in the second overtime as Assumption College field hockey defeated Franklin Pierce, 1-0, in a Northeast-10 Conference game at Sodexo Field.

MEN'S SOCCER: Blaisdell, the 2007 Northeast-10 Conference Freshman-of-the-Year, scored his first goal of the season on a header as freshman forward ANDREW KROH (Mount Laurel, NJ/Bishop Eustace Prep) crossed the goal with a pass from the right side.

The Greyhounds tied the game with just 37 seconds left in regulation as sophomore midfielder BRENDAN MC GEE (Merrimack, NH/Bishop Guertin) scored his first goal of the season in a scramble in front of the net setting the stage for the Blaisdell heroics.

The Greyhounds (2-1-1 overall) moved into first place in the conference with the victory with seven points (2-0-1). Southern Connecticut (also 2-0-1) played a 2-2 tie with UMass Lowell in a night game. The Greyhounds host Le Moyne Tuesday at 7. Stonehill, now 1-2 overall, hosts non-conference opponent Briarcliffe, NY, also on Tuesday.

Stonehill moved to a quick 2-0 lead in the first nine minutes. Sophomore midfielder TODD SHIGO (Naples, ME/Lake Regional) converted a pass with a blast just under the crossbar at 5:41. Junior forward SHAUN KEELEY (Woburn, MA/Woburn) and senior midfielder THOMAS HERNON (Mansfield, MA/Mansfield) assisted. Just over three minutes later (8:55) senior back KEVIN HALLORAN (Tyngsboro, MA/Tyngsboro) redirected a crossing pass from Shigo into the far corner.

Greyhounds senior captain PAUL MURPHY (Wilbraham, MA/Minnechaug) picked up a loose ball in front after a shot by sophomore midfielder JEFFREY SWAN (Fairfield, CT/Fairfield-Ludlowe) and drilled it past the right post to cut the lead in half at 24:06.

Kroh tied the game at 2-2 on a pass from Blaisdell redirecting from the right side to the far post at 39:17.

The Skyhawks took the lead again as freshman forward MICHAEL WHITE (Lisbon, NH/Tilton School) headed a pass from junior forward DAVID POHL (Bridgewater, MA/Bridgewater-Raynham) for a 3-2 advantage at the 79:44 mark.

Hounds' sophomore goalkeeper BRANDON SULLIVAN (Halesite, NY/Saint Dominic) made four saves to post the win, while Stonehill sophomore netminder BRANDON MC FARLANE (Norwich, CT/Norwich Free) made four saves for the Skyhawks.

The Greyhounds outshot Stonehill, 15-10 and enjoyed a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks.

CLICK HERE for Assumption-Stonehill box score

WOMEN'S FIELD HOCKEY: Ranieri converted a turnover inside the crease area into the game's lone goal and junior goalkeeper JACQUE DULONG (Merrimack, NH/Merrimack) made six saves to post the shutout as the Greyhounds improved to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in the conference.

Freshman goalkeeper KRISTIN TORMOLLAN (Waterville, ME/Waterville) made eight saves for Franklin Pierce.

Dulong made the biggest save of the first half denying Franklin Pierce senior defender STEPHANIE HOWARD (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk) on a point blank shot from the left side of the circle. Franklin Pierce held a slight 8-7 advantage in shots in the half.

The teams played a scoreless second half and the Ravens held a slight advantage in the first overtime registering all four shots.

Ranieri finally broke through for Assumption with the game-winner just over two minutes into the second overtime period. Franklin Pierce turned the ball over inside the circle, which allowed Assumption junior forward HILLARY ZYSK (Walpole, MA/Walpole) to feed Ranieri on the right side for the game's only goal.

Assumption returns to action Tuesday at Southern Connecticut State, while Franklin Pierece (2-3, 2-2) travels to Bentley, also on Tuesday. Both games are slated for 7 p.m. starts.

CLICK HERE for Assumption-Franklin Pierce box score