Johansson hat trick leads
Ravens to key Northeast-10 victory
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (September 25, 2007) – Franklin
Pierce University, ranked 18th in this week's National Soccer
Coaches' Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II
poll, handed No. 24-ranked Merrimack College its first loss of the
season with a 4-1 decision in a key Northeast-10 Conference
women's soccer match at Warrior Field tonight.
Freshman forward Angelika Johansson (Falkenberg,
Sweden) netted a hat trick to lead Franklin Pierce, while
senior All-American Gabriela Demoner (Curitiba,
Brazil) dished a pair of assists and sophomore
Mackenzie Bulych (Regina, Saskatchewan /Dr. Martin
LeBoldus) contributed a goal and assist.
Senior Jenna Mello (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry)
and junior Brittany Ester (Toms River, N.J./Toms River
East) split the goalkeeping duties for Franklin Pierce.
Mello made one save, conceding a goal, in the first 56:02, before
giving way to Ester, who made four stops over the final 33:58.
Senior Shannon Rowan (Fair Haven, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven) finished
with eight saves for Merrimack.
Johansson led Franklin Pierce to a 2-0 lead within the first half
hour of the match with two of her three goals. Bulych set up
Johansson's opening goal just 10:39 into the match off a
Merrimack turnover with a break down the right side. Johansson
one-timed a pass from Demoner in the 29th minute to double the
Ravens advantage.
Merrimack pulled a goal back before halftime as junior Nikki
Abruzzese (Morris Plains, N.J./Morris Catholic) tipped in a loose
ball in front of the net off a corner kick by sophomore Gabrielle
Gramprey (Brockton, Mass./Brockton) 9:16 before the break.
Franklin Pierce ended all hopes of a Merrimack comeback, after
rallying from a 4-1 deficit at Southern Connecticut State
University for a 5-4 double-overtime win on Saturday, with two
goals in the final 13 minutes of regulation. Rowan was caught out
of position on a Demoner cross and Bulych deposited a shot into the
left side of the open net in the 78th minute. Johansson completed
her hat trick with 2:42 left in regulation, assisted by freshman
Kelly Weygand (Bridgewater,
Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham), off a free kick.
Franklin Pierce (7-1-2, 5-1-2 NE-10) returns to action on Saturday
when it visits Granite State rivals Southern New Hampshire
University at 1 p.m. The Ravens are back home on Wednesday, October
3, to host Le Moyne College at 4 p.m. Merrimack (6-1-3, 4-1-2
NE-10) hosts Saint Anselm College on Saturday at 11 a.m.
