Ravens avoid upset with late goal
and 4-3 decision in PKs after two sides play to 1-1 draw
RINDGE, N.H. (November 3,
2006) - Top-seeded Franklin Pierce, ranked sixth in this
week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America
(NSCAA)/adidas Division II women's soccer poll, advanced via a
penalty shootout (4-3) after playing to a 1-1 double-overtime draw
with fourth-seeded University of Massachusetts Lowell, receiving
votes nationally, in first round action of the 2006 NCAA Division
II Women's Soccer Tournament at Sodexho Field this evening.
Franklin Pierce was finally able to
crack the UMass Lowell defense and freshman goalkeeper
Jamie Gillis (North Billerica, Mass./North
Billerica) in the 81st minute to send the match
to overtime. Gillis, who finished with a season-high 13 saves,
including nine over the second half and overtime, to keep the River
Hawks in the match. The Ravens swarmed the UML goal, especially in
the second half and overtime periods, posting a 23-11 advantage in
shots (16-5 after halftime), including 15-4 on
target.
Sophomore back Rebecca
Westbury (Northbridge, Mass./Northbridge) served a free
kick from 35-yards out down the left flank that junior
Gabriela Demoner (Curitiba, Brazil) was able to
flick past Gillis as she came off her line to attempt a play on the
ball.
The goal capped a flurry of chances
which were thwarted by Gillis as the Ravens pressed forward for the
needed equalizer. Westbury had an open shot during a scramble off a
corner kick cleared off the line by UMass Lowell freshman
Kathleen Strazzere (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington)
in the 74th minute. Gillis made two point-blank stops on
successive shots inside the six by Franklin Pierce freshman
Mackenzie Bulych (Regina, Saskatchewan/Dr. Martin
LeBoldus) and senior back Alex Scavo (Toronto,
Ontario/Brother Andre) just seconds before the equalizer
in the 81st.
UMass Lowell opened the scoring
late in the first half against the run of play as junior
Tanekar Alexander (Warwick, R.I./CCRI) fired a
cross from senior Kristin Mahoney (Newburyport,
Mass./IUPFW) from 22-yards out into the right side of the
goal.
The match moved into a penalty
shootout after neither team managed to score in extra time.
Franklin Pierce junior goalkeeper Jenna Mello (Londonderry,
N.H./Londonderry) stopped the River Hawks first attempt by
senior Tricia Auld (Waltham, Mass./Waltham).
Gillis evened things with a stop on
Franklin Pierce junior Laura Stockdale (Sunderland,
England) in the second round, but River Hawks senior
Courtney Curran (Wakefield, Mass./Wakefield)
pushed her attempt wide of the left post with Mello leaning the
other way in the third round. Freshman Rachel Smith
(Carlisle, Pa./Bible Baptist School) clinched the victory
for the Ravens when she converted in the fifth round.
Mello finished with three saves for
Franklin Pierce (two first half) as the Ravens remained unbeaten at
home in their postseason history (37-0-2), despite suffering their
first blemish at home in NCAA Tournament play (22-0-1).
Franklin Pierce (17-2-1) advances
to Sunday's New England Regional final where it will face
second-seeded and No. 15-ranked College of Saint Rose (17-2-1) on
Sunday at 1 p.m. The Golden Knights advanced with a 2-0 victory
over third-seeded and No. 23-ranked Bryant University (15-8-1) in
today's first match. The Ravens have captured all ten regional
championships since the NCAA developed this current format. UMass
Lowell, making its second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance,
concludes its season at 10-5-4 overall.
MATCH
STATISTICS & PLAY-BY-PLAY
