Smith's season-high
14 saves earns Bentley's first result over Ravens in 15
series meetings
RINDGE, N.H. (October 9, 2007) – Franklin Pierce
University, ranked 18th in this week's National Soccer
Coaches' Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II
poll, was held to a scoreless draw by Bentley College, ranked ninth
in the New England region, in Northeast-10 Conference women's
soccer action at Sodexho Field tonight.
Franklin Pierce, unbeaten over its last nine matches, has been held
to back-to-back draws for the first time since consecutive ties to
American International College (1-1) and Southern New Hampshire
University (0-0) on September 30 and October 6, 1989. The Ravens
four draws this season are a program record, breaking the previous
high of three set in 1989. The tie is Bentley's first result
in 15 meetings in the all-time series, with Franklin Pierce winning
each of the first 14 encounters.
Franklin Pierce failed to capitalize on an overwhelming 30-5 shots
advantage for the match, out-shooting Bentley 13-0 in the first
half and 11-3 in the second. The Ravens finished with a 14-4 edge
in shots on target.
Freshman Kara Smith (West Springfield, Mass./West Springfield)
preserved the scoreless draw for Bentley with a season-high 14
saves, making eight in the second half alone. Junior
Brittany Ester (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East)
finished with four stops for Franklin Pierce, all coming after
halftime.
Franklin Pierce missed a host of chances to earn the victory,
peppering Bentley with seven shots in the opening nine minutes
alone. Junior Ann Foley (Foxborough,
Mass./Rockland) just missed with a drive from 24-yards out
with a shot that just carried over the crossbar nine minutes in.
Senior Jenna Giardina (Pittsfield, Mass./Taconic)
created a shot off her own individual effort, beating a pair of
defenders, and her drive from just inside the penalty area on the
right side had Smith beaten high to the left side, but the shot
caromed off the crossbar.
Senior All-American Gabriela Demoner (Curitiba,
Brazil) was next to find the wood work for Franklin
Pierce. She unleashed a rocket from 30-yards out on the left side
that had Smith beaten as well, only to clang the crossbar
harmlessly. Demoner finished with a match-high ten shots for the
Ravens, placing six on target, but nearly all of them were straight
into Smith.
Smith was forced to fully extend herself on a low drive by freshman
Angelika Johansson (Falkenberg, Sweden) less then
nine minutes into the second half. Sophomore All-American
Shona Franklin (Leicester, England) saw Smith
barely get a glove to her sliding attempt from just outside the
goal box on the left side, the rebound was loose inside the six,
but the Bentley defense recovered in time to clear the threat.
Smith made a nice save low to her left on a Demoner attempt in the
104th minute and then Bentley nearly took the victory themselves
against the run of play later in the second extra session. Junior
Tara Petitto (Wakefield, Mass./Wakefield) just pulled her shot from
the top of the 18 on the left side wide of the target off a cross
from the right side on a counter-attack in the 108th minute.
Franklin Pierce (9-1-4, 7-1-4 NE-10) looks to get back on the
winning track on Saturday when it visits American International
College at 11 a.m. The Ravens return home next Tuesday for a
non-conference contest with the University of New Haven at 6 p.m.
Bentley (7-6-2, 4-5-2 NE-10) hosts Adelphi University on Saturday
at 3:30 p.m.
