Ravens to face third-seeded
Assumption for fifth-straight title on Sunday
RINDGE, N.H. (November 3,
2004) - Top-seeded Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 4 in this
week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America
(NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, jumped out to a quick lead, then
iced the match with three second-half goals to claim a 5-0 victory
over fourth-seeded College of Saint Rose in semifinal round action
of the Northeast-10 Conference women's soccer tournament this
afternoon.
Franklin Pierce (17-1, 13-1 NE-10)
advances to its fifth-straight NE-10 Championship match where it
will seek a record-matching fifth title on Sunday at 1 p.m. The
Ravens will host third-seeded Assumption College (14-4-0, 10-4
NE-10), who posted a 1-0 victory over seventh-seeded Southern
Connecticut State University this afternoon. The Greyhounds will be
participating in third Conference Championship match, returning for
the first time since 1999. Saint Rose (13-4-2, 9-3-2 NE-10) now
awaits word on a possible third-straight NCAA Tournament berth to
be announced on Monday.
Franklin Pierce got a pair of goals
from junior All-American Laura Hislop (Belfast,
Northern Ireland) and a goal and assist from senior
All-American Meghan Welcome (Haverhill,
Mass./Haverhill). Freshman goalkeeper
Jenna Mello (Londonderry,
N.H./Londonderry) was credited with her sixth shutout
of the season with a pair of saves.
The Ravens jumped ahead just
61-seconds into the match as freshman midfielder Taryn
Welker (Wayne, Pa./Conestoga) pounced on a Saint Rose
turnover at the top of the penalty box, then carried the ball into
the area before firing a shot past helpless junior goalkeeper
Kat Marasia (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) for
her first collegiate goal.
Welcome put Franklin Pierce up a
pair in the 22nd minute when a cross from junior
Sonya Hughes (Balbriggan, Ireland) sent
her in on a break for a shot into the right corner of the
net.
Franklin Pierce turned on the
pressure even more in the second half with Hislop netting the next
two markers. She headed in a cross by Welcome from the left side at
the far post which caught the Saint Rose keeper out of position in
the 53rd minute, then scored on a 40-yard free kick from
the right channel into the upper right corner in the
67th.
Senior midfielder
Martta Makila (Vantaa, Finland) rounded
out the scoring in the 77th minute when she rifled in a
shot off a failed Saint Rose clear just inside the right post.
Marasia finished the match with two
saves in just over 58-minutes of work, before giving way to
freshman Lauren Steinberg (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John
Jay), who made one stop over the final 31:32.
Franklin Pierce out-shot the Golden
Knights, 12-10, for the match, but the advantage was 8-2 on goal.
Saint Rose's best chance came just before halftime when senior
Renae Ransdell (Richland, Wash./Richland)
was in on a break with a defender on her hip in the 43rd
minute, but her shot went straight at Mello in the Ravens goal for
an easy catch save.
MATCH
STATISTICS
