Back on the field for the first time since the end of the 2019 season, the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team filled up the net early and often on Thursday night at Sodexo Field. Freshman Anna Beck scored twice, while sophomore Meghan Winn added a goal and an assist, and freshman Alannah Johnson of Greenville added an assist in her collegiate debut as the Ravens rolled over fellow Cheshire County institution Keene State in non-conference play, 6-0.
With the win, Franklin Pierce opens its abbreviated spring season at 1-0, while Keene State falls to 0-2. It marked the first-ever meeting between the Division II Ravens and the Division III Owls in the sport of field hockey. It marked the first victory as a collegiate head coach for Marissa Shaw.
International freshman Julia Rooijakkers got the party started for the Ravens with a goal just 3:36 into her own college debut on a give-and-go with fellow freshman Annie Corbet.
Beck struck for her first two collegiate goals just 87 seconds apart in the opening 10 minutes.
Freshman forward Alannah Johnson made an splash in her debut, as she fed the ball down the middle of the circle for sophomore Karly Holgerson, who slipped a reverse-stick shot into the left side of the net for her first collegiate goal.
Later, in the 28th minute, sophomore Christine Jarowicz did all the hard work, as she carried the ball through the circle and into a prime scoring area, only to have it poked away by a Keene State defender and then tumble to the ground. Winn was the beneficiary, as she found the loose ball amid the yard sale and popped it into the top of the cage to give herself a three-point night.
One more goal, just 39 seconds into the third quarter, would create the 6-0 final. On a corner play, the Ravens worked the ball over to the right side for Beck, who let a long shot fly from the edge of the circle. Freshman goalkeeper Victoria Watson made the save, but the rebound came to the right side and straight to the stick of freshman Silver Clukey. Clukey did not miss on the second chance and became the fourth Raven of the night to score her first collegiate goal.
Senior Olivia Barnes played the first three quarters in net to pick up the win (1-0) for Franklin Pierce, after she stopped all three shots she faced. Sophomore MacKenzie Potvin finished off the shutout, as she turned aside the only shot she faced in the fourth quarter.