Ravens defeat third-seeded
Assumption, 4-1, to match Conference record Scavo named MVP
after strong defensive play and three points from the
back
RINDGE, N.H. (November 7,
2004) - Top-seeded Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 4 in this
week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America
(NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, matched a Conference record with
its fifth Northeast-10 Tournament title after posting a 4-1 victory
over third-seeded and No. 21-ranked Assumption College in today's
NE-10 women's Championship match.
Franklin Pierce, which has won all
five NE-10 Tournament titles since joining the Conference prior to
the 2000 season, matches the Conference record of five titles set
by Merrimack College when it claimed its fifth championship in
1999. No Conference team has won five-straight tournaments prior to
today.
Senior All-American
Meghan Welcome (Haverhill,
Mass./Haverhill) totaled two goals and an assist,
while junior All-American Laura Hislop (Belfast,
Northern Ireland) netted a pair of goals as Franklin
Pierce matched the Conference record for goals in a championship
match set by Springfield College in 1985 and matched on three other
occasions, including last season by the Ravens in their 4-3 victory
over Merrimack. Junior Sonya Hughes (Balbriggan,
Ireland) dished a pair of assists on the day.
Franklin Pierce sophomore back
Alex Scavo (Toronto, Ontario/Brother
Andre) was named the NE-10 Tournament MVP as she
headed a Ravens defensive unit which yielded just one goal in the
three matches and stepped into the offensive play with a goal and
assist for three points.
The Ravens jumped on the board
early as Hughes found Welcome with a cross from the left flank for
a one-timed shot from in close to the goal on the first shot of the
match by either side 6:55 into the match. Franklin Pierce doubled
its advantage in the 35th minute as the two connected
again, this time Welcome timed her run perfectly to walk on to a
through ball over the top of the Assumption defense by Hughes and
fired a shot into the lower right corner of the
net.
Welcome's second marker of the day
proved to be the match-winner, matching the program's career record
of 26 set by former three-time All-American Pauliina Miettinen from
1995-98.
With Assumption pushing players
forward in an attempt to get on the board, Hislop netted a pair of
counter attack goals to give the Ravens a 4-0 advantage. The first
came in the 75th minute after Greyhound freshman
goalkeeper Lauren Matysiak (Holden,
Mass./Wachusett) made a tremendous save on Hislop's
initial shot, but the rebound went right to Hislop's feet and she
put the ball away off Matysiak's back. Welcome set up the second
goal in the 82nd minute with a lob pass over the defense
for a Hislop break, which she deposited into the lower right
corner.
The Greyhounds got on the board in
the 88th minute when senior Mary Wood (Stow,
Mass./Nashoba) gathered a loose ball after a
defensive turnover and fired the ball into a wide open net as
Franklin Pierce freshman goalkeeper Jenna Mello
(Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) was caught out of
position on the play.
Matysiak made three saves for the
Greyhounds, while Mello did not register a stop in the match for
Franklin Pierce.
Franklin Pierce (18-1, 13-1 NE-10)
and Assumption (14-5, 10-4 NE-10) are both locks to receive NCAA
Division II Tournament berths to be announced late Monday
afternoon.
MATCH
STATISTICS
