Ester collects four saves
in third shutout of the season; Ravens move into first place
tie
RINDGE, N.H. (October 3, 2007) – Franklin Pierce
University, ranked 16th in this week's National Soccer
Coaches' Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II
poll, moved into a three-way tie for first place in the
Northeast-10 Conference standings with a 2-0 victory over Le Moyne
College, ranked seventh in the New England Region, in women's
soccer action at Sodexho Field this afternoon.
The win moves Franklin Pierce, winners of four-straight and
unbeaten in its last seven, into a three-way tie for first place in
the Northeast-10 standings with 23 points. No. 2 Bryant University
and 10th-ranked College of Saint Rose played to a 2-2
double-overtime draw in Smithfield, R.I., this afternoon. Those two
teams each have a match in hand on the Ravens in Conference
play.
Franklin Pierce rode a pair of goals in the opening 20-minutes to
victory this afternoon, with junior goalkeeper Brittany
Ester (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) making four saves
(three second half) to preserve her third shutout of the season.
Junior Amanda Abbatiello (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) made three
stops for Le Moyne. Franklin Pierce finished with an 8-5 edge in
shots for the match.
Senior All-American Gabriela Demoner (Curitiba,
Brazil) opened the scoring seven minutes into the match
when she took a pass down the left sideline from junior
Melissa Hagmire (Livonia, N.Y./Livonia) and cut
back across the middle, beating a pair of defenders, before
slipping a low shot off Abbatiello's glove and over the goal
line for her NE-10 best 13th goal of the season. The assist for
Hagmire marked her first career point.
The Ravens have scored first in 11 of their 12 matches so far this
season, with the lone exception a 0-0 draw with Saint Rose on
September 1.
Franklin Pierce doubled its advantage just under 13-minutes later
as senior Thatiane Preisler (Curitiba, Brazil)
took a cross from the right side by senior Jenna Giardina
(Pittsfield, Mass./Taconic) and drove a shot through the
hands and legs of Abbatiello at 19:50.
Franklin Pierce (9-1-2, 7-1-2 NE-10) is back in action on Saturday
when it visits the University of Massachusetts Lowell, ranked
seventh in the region, at noon. The Ravens return home next
Tuesday, October 9, to host Bentley College at 7 p.m. Le Moyne
(7-5-0, 4-5-0 NE-10) hosts Merrimack College on Saturday at noon.
