United Soccer Coaches All-East Region selections

RINDGE, N.H. (November 27, 2018) -- Three players on the First Team highlighted four United Soccer Coaches All-East Region selections for the Franklin Pierce University women’s soccer team, as announced late Monday by the coaches’ association. Senior back Marta Turmo (Barcelona, Spain), senior midfielder Nathalia Maria da Silva (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and junior forward Veronica Marques (Sao Paulo, Brazil) all landed on the All-East Region First Team, while senior forward Bruna Tavares (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) earned a spot of the All-East Region Third Team.

Turmo, da Silva and Marques are now consensus All-East Region First Team picks, as they were all also honored by the Conference Commissioner’s Association earlier in November. It is the second straight USC All-East Region selection for Turmo, da Silva and Tavares, who were each honored by the coaches’ association in 2017 as well.

Turmo – the NE10 Defensive Player of the Year – served as a captain on the back line of what was one of the NE10’s strongest defensive units. The Ravens allowed only 21 goals in 20 games on the year, which was good for a 1.02 goals-against average, which ranked second in the NE10. Turmo also pushed forward on corner kicks and set pieces for the Ravens, and collected seven points on two goals and three assists. She attempted 15 shots, including six on goal.

An All-NE10 First Team selection earlier in the fall, da Silva finished tied for third in the NE10 with 34 points, on 15 goals and four assists. The 15 goals were good enough to tie for second in the NE10. She also ranked tied for third in the NE10 in shot attempts (87) and fourth in shots on goal (44).

Marques, who earned NE10 Player of the Year honors, finished second in the NE10 with 40 points on the year, on 15 goals and 10 assists. The 15 goals are good enough to tie for second in the league, as are the 10 assists. Marques also finished tied for third in the NE10 in shot attempts (87) and third in shots on goal (45). She scored eight game-winning goals on the year, which tied for the league lead.

Tavares tallied 23 points on the season, which was good enough for third on the team. Her nine assists ranked second on the squad, behind Marques, while she netted seven goals along the way as well, including two game-winners. Tavares attempted 50 shots, including 31 on goal.

The Ravens (16-2-2) returned to the NCAA Championship for the second straight year, and the 21st time overall, in 2018. Franklin Pierce earned its first victory in the national tournament since 2009, before being eliminated in the second round.