Second-Half PK Proves Difference as Women’s Soccer Downs Merrimack, 2-1, in NE10 Semifinal

RINDGE, N.H. (November 3, 2017) – For the first time since 2010, the Franklin Pierce University women's soccer team will play for the Northeast-10 Conference title. A second-half penalty kick by junior midfielder Nathalia Maria da Silva (Sao Paulo, Brazil) stood as the difference, as the fourth-seeded Ravens notched a 2-1 win over eighth-seeded Merrimack in the semifinal round of the NE10 Championship at Sodexo Field.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 12-3-2 and advances to the title game, while Merrimack concludes its season at 10-9-0. Franklin Pierce will travel to second-seeded SNHU for the final at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Larkin Field in Manchester, N.H. The Penmen played to a 1-1 draw with sixth-seeded Assumption in Friday's other semifinal, before advancing, 5-4, on penalty kicks.

Due to the state of the East Region, and the way the conference tournaments have unfolded, Assumption's elimination held significance for the Ravens, as it likely punched the team's ticket to next week's NCAA Championship East Regional. Selections will be made official on Monday afternoon, but the math throughout the region suggests Franklin Pierce has done enough to earn the program's first NCAA bid since 2010.

In Friday's semifinal, Franklin Pierce had the better of the scoring chances throughout, as the Ravens posted an 11-5 advantage in shot attempts and 6-3 edge in shots on goal. The Ravens had the two strongest scoring opportunities of the scoreless first half. In the 17^th minute, Franklin Pierce was awarded a free kick from approximately 28 yards in front of the left post. Sophomore midfielder Gabi Pereira (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) took the shot, but put it over the top of the net.

Just a few minutes later, in the 20^th minute, junior midfielder Bruna Tavares (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) was able to spring sophomore midfielder Veronica Marques (Sao Paulo, Brazil) on a partial breakaway into the right side of the penalty area. Marques pulled her shot wide outside the left post, bringing her hands to her face in disbelief at the missed opportunity.

On the other side of halftime, in the 50^th minute, Tavares provided another solid setup, as she sent a pass into the middle, which da Silva got on the other end of near the penalty spot. She had the space to step into her shot, but put it wide outside the left post.

The Ravens would break through just minutes later, in the 53^rd minute. After taking the ball in the right side of the penalty area, Marques turned with the ball and cut to the middle of the box, shedding her defender in the process. Marques promptly put the ball inside the left post for her sixth goal of the season.

Franklin Pierce tacked on what proved to be an important insurance marker in the 80^th minute, when Tavares was tripped up in the box while trying to put away a rebound near the top of the six-yard box. It was da Silva who took the ensuing penalty kick, which she elevated towards the left side of the net. Merrimack sophomore goalkeeper Erin Fulton got her hands to the ball, but could not keep it out, as da Silva's team-leading seventh goal of the year made it a 2-0 game.

Merrimack got on the board in the 87^th minute to cut the deficit in half. With everybody pushed up, senior back Emily Maier took a free kick about 40 yards from goal on the left side of the midfield. As it turned out, Maier did not require the help of those pushed forward, as she put a direct shot inside the right post for her first goal of the year.

The Warriors continued their attempts to ramp up the pressure after the goal, but there was not enough time left to mount an effective attack. The final 3:10 went without further scoring, and the Ravens came away with the 2-1 victory.

Senior goalkeeper Casey Cook (Beverly, Mass.) made two saves against three shots on goal to pick up the win (12-3-2) in front of the Franklin Pierce goal. At the other end of the field, Fulton (6-4-0) stopped four of six shots over the opening 82:33 in the losing effort for Merrimack. Trailing 2-0 late, Merrimack head coach Gabe Mejail opted to give NE10 Championship minutes to his senior goalkeeper, Molly Meehan. Meehan came on for the final 7:27 and did not face a shot.

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).