Ravens capture seventh-straight
NE-10 Tournament title Demoner nets match-winner, named Tournament
MVP
RINDGE, N.H. (October 29,
2006) - Second-seeded Franklin Pierce, ranked tenth in
this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America
(NSCAA)/adidas Division II women's poll, captured its record
seventh-straight Northeast-10 Conference Tournament Championship
with a 3-1 victory over fourth-seeded Bryant University at Sodexho
Field this afternoon.
Franklin Pierce, out-shot by Bryant
7-2 in the first half, came out strong in the second half with
junior Gabriela Demoner (Curitiba, Brazil) putting
the Ravens ahead for good when she took a pass from the right side
by sophomore Ann Foley (Rockland, Mass./Rockland),
beat one defender, and fired a low drive into the left corner of
the goal for her team-leading 12th marker of the season.
Demoner was later named Tournament MVP for her efforts. The Ravens
have won all seven NE-10 Tournament titles since joining the
Conference prior to the 2000
season.
Junior goalkeeper Jenna
Mello (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) made five saves
(four first half) to preserve the win for Franklin Pierce, its
16th-straight. Bryant freshman goalkeeper Katie
Mitchell (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park) finished with two
saves (both second half) as the Bulldogs were out-shot 11-9 (9-2
second half) for the match.
Franklin Pierce took its first lead
in the 22nd minute when junior Laura Stockdale
(Sunderland, England) broke in one-on-one with Mitchell
after a long pass from the back by senior All-American Alex
Scavo (Toronto, Ontario/Brother Andre) was flicked into
the left channel by junior Jenna Giardina (Pittsfield,
Mass./Taconic). Stockdale scored with a low shot into the
right side of the net.
Bryant equalized in the
38th minute when senior Casey Grange (Methuen,
Mass./Central Catholic) one-timed a sharp cross from the
left side by junior Tricia Spada (Dedham,
Mass./Dedham) into an open net for her team-leading
19th goal of the season.
Freshman Shona Franklin
(Leicester, England) gave the Ravens an insurance goal
with just 1:35 left in regulation when she broke through a pressing
Bryant defense on a counter-attack and slipped a shot past a
charging Mitchell into the right side of the net for her sixth goal
of the season.
Franklin Pierce (17-2-0, 12-2-0
NE-10) and Bryant (15-7-1, 9-4-1 NE-10) both await official word
from the NCAA Championships Committee on likely NCAA Tournament
bids to be release Monday afternoon. The Ravens, now 37-0-1
all-time at home in postseason play, will be making its Division II
record 15th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
MATCH
STATISTICS & PLAY-BY-PLAY
