NE10 Championship Central
Highlights

RINDGE, N.H. (October 31, 2017) – After a two-year hiatus, the Franklin Pierce University women's soccer team returned to the postseason with quiet dominance on Tuesday afternoon at Sodexo Field. The fourth-seeded Ravens piled up a 16-5 advantage in shots and surrendered little in the way of quality scoring threats on the way to a 1-0 win over fifth-seeded Pace in the quarterfinal round of the Northeast-10 Conference Championship at Sodexo Field. Sophomore midfielder Veronica Marques (Sao Paulo, Brazil) provided the day's lone goal in the 37^th minute.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 11-3-2 and advances to the semifinal round, while Pace concludes its season at 9-9-1.

By virtue of Merrimack's 2-1, upset win at Adelphi, the Ravens will be home in the semifinal round as well. Franklin Pierce will host eighth-seeded Merrimack on Friday, Nov. 3, with opening kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m. at Sodexo Field. In the other side of the bracket on Tuesday afternoon, second-seeded Southern New Hampshire took care of seventh-seeded Bentley at home, 2-0, and third seed Saint Rose hosted six seed Assumption. In the latter game, Assumption led 2-0 in the 22nd minute at press time.

The game's only goal came in the 37^th minute. Making a run on the left side of the field, Marques took a feed from the left wing by sophomore forward Sophie Cousineau (Milton, Mass.). Marques one-touched the ball past her defender at the top of the penalty area, caught up with the ball inside the box and fired a shot inside the far post for her fifth goal of the season, and her third game-winning goal in just five games with the Ravens.

Franklin Pierce's best chances to add insurance markers came off of free kicks in the final half-hour. In the 68^th minute, senior back Gabriella Braga (Porto Alegre, Brazil) lined up for a free kick about 35 yards from goal on the left side. She curled a well-placed service into the box, which fell to the feet of junior back Marta Turmo (Barcelona, Spain) behind everyone at the top of the six-yard box. However, Turmo could not get a big enough piece of the ball to put it home, and Pace senior goalkeeper Hayley Pascoal came up with the save.

Just minutes later, in the 72^nd minute, junior midfielder Nathalia Maria da Silva (Sao Paulo, Brazil) stood over a free kick from a yard outside of the penalty area, just to the left of the arc. She bent her shot around the wall, but it tailed too far towards the middle of the goal, into the waiting arms of Pascoal.

Ultimately, the defense made sure no insurance was necessary, as Pace could not put a credible scoring chance towards the net in the final 20 minutes. The Ravens surrendered only two shots on goal on the afternoon, neither of which seriously tested senior goalkeeper Casey Cook (Beverly, Mass.).

Cook (11-3-2) stopped both shots to post her eighth shutout of the season, which was also the 22^nd of her career. Pascoal (8-7-1) finished with three saves against four shots on goal and suffered the loss at the other end of the field for Pace.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce soccer apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).