Waltham, Mass. – Senior Alyssa Valente (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan) scored in the 99^th minute to give the Bentley women's soccer team a 2-1 overtime win over No. 9 ranked and previously unbeaten Franklin Pierce.

Valente headed in a cross to the far post from eight yards out for the winning goal. The cross came from sophomore Emma Guccione (Holliston, Mass./Holliston) from the right wing, her second assist of the day.

The Ravens had come into the game 8-0 on the season and averaging 3.00 goals per game.

The Falcons had seized an early 1-0 lead, in just the 4^th minute, on junior Stephanie Helin's (Manchester, Conn./East Catholic) 5^th goal of the year. Guccione set the goal up with a run down the right wing and a cross into the six yard box that Helin got on the end of and volleyed into the back of the net.

Bentley had two near misses the rest of the half. A curling shot by Guccione from 20 yards out from the right corner hit the upper left cross bar. Late in the half, a cross from the right wing by Valente set up freshman Dana Goulet (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington) for a close range header, only to be denied by FPU keeper Casey Kane with a diving save.

Franklin Pierce did score the tying goal in the 73^rd minute from midfielder Gabi Pereira, on a low shot through traffic to the near post from 20 yards.

But Bentley's defense shined throughout the afternoon. Center back Riane Hunt (Millis, Mass./Millis) made several big tackles, and the rest of the back line of Meagan Iris (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills), Brandi McDonald (East Bridgewater, Mass./East Bridgewater) and Sammy Millmann (Northport, N.Y./Northport) was strong throughout.

Goalkeeper Renee Perkins (Nantucket, Mass./Lawrence Academy) made several big saves, including denying forward Veronica Marques in the 70^th minute on a tough shot. She made six saves to earn the win.

The Falcons improved to 3-3-3 on the season with the win, and 2-3-2 NE10, while the Ravens dropped to 8-1 overall and 7-1 NE10.

Bentley will look for its second straight win on Saturday when they travel to Saint Rose.