Demoner named women's soccer Player of the Week for first time Bulych and Parnell collect first Freshman of the Week awards for women's soccer and volleyball, respectively

RINDGE, N.H. (October 16, 2006) - Three Franklin Pierce student-athletes were recognized for their efforts last week as the Northeast-10 Conference announced their weekly awards on Monday.

Junior Gabriela Demoner (Curitiba, Brazil) earned NE-10 Player of the Week honors in women's soccer, while freshmen Mackenzie Bulych (Regina, Saskatchewan/Dr. Martin LeBoldus) and Caitlin Parnell (Medina, Texas/Medina) both earned Freshman of the Week honors in women's soccer and volleyball, respectively. 

Demoner earns her first weekly award after totaling nine points with four goals and an assist in a 3-0 week for the Franklin Pierce women's soccer team, placing the Ravens in first place in the Northeast-10 standings. She led Franklin Pierce to a 5-1 victory at Bentley on Wednesday with two goals and an assist for a five-point outing. Demoner also scored a goal each in wins over No. 21 UMass Lowell and American International College on Saturday and Sunday.

Demoner has been the spark behind Franklin Pierce's 12-match winning streak after suffering back-to-back shutout losses for the first time in 16 years. She has totaled a team-leading ten goals (4^th NE-10) and eight assists (1^st) for 28 points (3^rd) in 12 matches played this fall. Demoner also shares the team lead with three match-winning goals (3^rd).

Demoner made in immediate impact with a season-best three goals, all scored in a 14-minute span in the second half, in her Franklin Pierce debut - a 3-1 comeback win over Bryant University on September 9.           

Bulych also her collects her first weekly award of the year with her Freshman of the Week honor. She scored two goals (both match-winners) in Franklin Pierce's 3-0 week. Bulych netted the winner in the 25^th minute of Saturday's 5-1 victory over 21^st-ranked UMass Lowell. She also notched the match-winner 18:05 into Sunday's 4-0 win over American International.

Bulych now shares the team lead (3^rd NE-10) with her three match-winning goals in her first collegiate season. She is also fourth on the team with eight points, scoring three goals (4^th team) and adding two assists (3^rd), in 12 matches played (eight starts).

The Franklin Pierce women's soccer team (13-2-0, 11-2-0 NE-10), ranked 12th last week's NSCAA/adidas Division II poll and second in the region, is off until Saturday when it rounds out the regular season at Southern Connecticut State University at 7 p.m. The Ravens will host a Northeast-10 Tournament quarterfinal round match on Tuesday, October 24 (Time & Opponent TBA).           

Parnell also earns her first Freshman of the Week honor after averaging 4.25 kills and 3.75 digs per game in a 2-0 week for the Franklin Pierce volleyball team. Parnell posted a season-high 19 kills (season-best .447 hitting percentage) and 12 digs in a 3-1 victory over Southern Connecticut State University on Friday. She opened the week with 15 kills, 18 digs and three blocks in Tuesday's 3-1 win over Merrimack College.

Parnell has played in all 19 matches for Franklin Pierce in her first collegiate season, averaging a team-high 3.00 kills and 3.32 digs per game. The rookie outside hitter has also been dominating in Conference play, averaging 3.19 kills/gm (10^th NE-10).

The Franklin Pierce volleyball team (13-6, 7-4 NE-10) returns to action when it hosts Saint Michael's College on Wednesday at 7 p.m.