Franklin Pierce fell Saturday in the NCAA Division II title game, a tough one for locals Jess LaCroix far left, and HB alum McKenna Maguire (34). (Photo courtesy of FPU Athletics)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Franklin Pierce University women’s soccer team made its eighth NCAA Division II National Championship appearance in program history on Saturday afternoon at Weidner Field, but Florida Tech ended up with a 3-0 win despite being outshot 16-10.

It’s Florida Tech’s first national title and made it a tough day for locals on the Ravens: former Hollis Brookline standout McKenna Maguire, Nashua North alum Lilly Baker-Ollivierra and starting goalkeeper Jess Lacroix (Bishop Guertin), who had two saves.

Florida Tech (17-3-6, 5-2-3) opened the scoring in the 13th minute, working the ball down the flank before Alice Mottershead delivered a low cross into the box. Lauryn Wood met the service at the near post and finished to give the Panthers an early 1-0 advantage.

The Ravens (17-3-5, 6-1-2) looked to respond late in the opening half and nearly found the equalizer just before the break. Samantha Breton rose for a header inside the box, forcing the Florida Tech goalkeeper to make a leaping save to preserve the lead heading into halftime.

Franklin Pierce controlled much of the possession in the second half, consistently applying pressure in the attacking third and generating multiple scoring opportunities. However, Florida Tech capitalized on a quick transition midway through the period. Sofia Posner played a through ball to Rio Naganawa, who sent a cross into the box that Peyton White finished with a header to extend the lead to 2-0.

The Panthers added an insurance goal in the final minutes when Naganawa struck a shot from the top of the box that found the back of the net, sealing the result.

Franklin Pierce held a 16-10 edge in shots, and the Ravens earned six corner kicks compared to Florida Tech’s two.

(Telegraph Staff Writer Tom King contributed to this report.)