Prior to Friday's match, Franklin women's soccer coach
Jennifer Jackson referred to Anderson as the Grizzlies' evil twin, expecting an evenly matched, back-and-forth game.
Invoking the immortal words of former football coach Dennis Green, Jackson summed up the match by saying, "They are who we thought they were."
Franklin answered back after the Ravens' initial goal but had no answer for the visitors' late second-half tally, suffering a tough 2-1 loss in a battle of HCAC Tournament hopefuls.
The two sides battled for control through an even first half, with each side getting five shots off. Anderson was able to cash in first, scoring with 5:38 left — but the Grizzlies (3-8-1, 1-3) needed just 28 seconds to even things up, with
Brooke Barnum notching her first collegiate goal at the other end.
Griz netminder
Emma Watson made a couple of saves early in the second half to keep the score level, and Franklin got an opportunity at the other end in the 66th minute when
Lauren Barker's shot on goal was punched over the crossbar by the Ravens' goalkeeper.
Anderson notched the go-ahead goal with 8:39 remaining. The Grizzlies had some chances late, with an
Amirah Curry header going off the crossbar in the 86th minute and a close-range shot by
Trinity Inglert turned away by the Anderson keeper just seconds before time expired.
Watson finished with 11 saves in a losing effort for the Grizzlies, who will return to action at Rose-Hulman next Wednesday evening (Oct. 14, 7 p.m.).
