BRONX, N.Y. — Franklin Pierce earned a decisive 2-0 victory over Mercy on Wednesday, extending its winning streak to four matches with a dominant first-half performance. The Ravens, ranked 11-1-4 overall, controlled the match through superior positioning and clinical finishing before a large crowd at Mercy's home venue.
Olivia Crespo opened scoring in the 23rd minute, assisted by Claudia Peirce, giving Franklin Pierce an early advantage. Samantha Breton doubled the lead in the 33rd minute with support from Brigid Moore and Mollie Cahalane, effectively deciding the contest before halftime. The two-goal cushion proved insurmountable for Mercy, which managed only six shots on goal throughout the 90 minutes.
Franklin Pierce's attacking prowess was evident in the statistics. The Ravens generated 10 shots on goal on 16 total attempts while earning three corner kicks. Mercy's goalkeeper made eight saves but could not prevent the early breakthrough. Franklin Pierce's defense remained organized, with goalkeeper recording six saves to preserve the shutout.
Samantha Breton received a yellow card in the 5th minute for unsporting conduct, but the early caution did not disrupt Franklin Pierce's rhythm. The Ravens made strategic substitutions throughout, rotating players while maintaining their competitive edge. Mercy countered with five substitutions at halftime in an attempt to spark offensive momentum, but the adjustments failed to generate scoring opportunities.
Mercy, which entered the match with a 12-2-2 record, struggled to find rhythm against Franklin Pierce's organized defensive structure. The home team's