Ravens Fall, 2-1, to UC San Diego in NCAA Division II Semifinals

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. (November 30, 2000) - As day turned into night, the lights went out on the Franklin Pierce women's soccer season.

Erika Alfredson (Palo Alton, Calif.) scored on a rebound in the 95th minute Thursday as the University of California San Diego beat the Ravens in overtime, 2-1, in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II tournament.

By winning the first-ever meeting between two reigning NCAA champions, the Tritons (20-2) now move on to Saturday's championship match to face the winner of Thursday's late game between Northern Kentucky University and host Barry University.

The Ravens (19-3-2) had their quest for a record sixth NCAA Division II title end less than five minutes into sudden-death overtime when Alfredson followed up a shot off the crossbar by pushing the ball across the goal line with her thigh.

The Ravens forced the extra session when senior forward Minna Mustonen (Helsinki, Finland) scored on an improbable shot with two minutes and 54 seconds left in regulation. Mustonen dribbled along the right baseline before curling in a shot to the far post.

UCSD was nursing a 1-0 led it had built in the sixth minute when Cindy Dostalek (Sierre Madre, Calif.) fired in a crossing pass from Alfredson.

The Ravens pressured throughout most of the second half, but the Tritons withstood that first wave and were able to generate two prime scoring chances in the final 10 minutes. Then came Mustonen's goal that seemed to turn the tide in Franklin Pierce's favor.

UCSD produced the best opportunities in the extra session, hitting the post once before Alfredson's game-winner.

The game featured the 1999 champions of Division II (FPC) and Division III (UCSD) in a first of its kind match. Franklin Pierce was making its ninth straight trip to the Final Four. The Ravens had won five of the previous six championships.

Conditions: 75 degrees 20 MPH wind blowing North to South. (Left to right on screen)
Field Conditions: Natural grass surface. Close carpet smooth. 120 X 70 Pitch
Official Starting Lineups:

0:00 Kickoff
*Franklin Pierce will be shooting towards the South goal (right on screen) with wind at back
1:15 UCSD goalkick
2:01 UCSD corner kick
4:00 UCSD handball at 30 yard line
4:05 Uusmalmi, FP
shot off direct kick, save Pomi
4:50 FP
yellow card, Pia Lahti on tackle
5:45 UCSD GOAL. Cindy Dostelak from 8 yards off cross from Erika Alfredsen
7:40 FP
Corner kick, Andrea Caesar
7:41 Nicole Cheadle, FP
shot wide left
9:30 FP
Corner kick, Julia Uusmalmi
10:00 Uumalmi, FP
shot off corner to low near post, save Pomi
10:05 Salomaa, FP
shot blocked in box
14:15 UCSD Corner kick
17:40 FP
Offsides, Pihlblad at the 18 yard line
20:00 Kirby, FP
long shot from 15 yards out just missed far upper 90 of net
21:00 UCSD foul, Salomaa taken down at midfield from behind
22:10 UCSD goalkick
24:35 UCSD foul, Mustonen taken down at 25
25:00 Uusmalmi, FP
shot from 35 yards, save Pomi
27:00 FP
goalkick
27:10 UCSD Corner kick
27:15 Cuder, UCSD shot off corner, save Higgins, UCSD foul
30:00 UCSD foul, Caesar taken down in own penalty box from behind
30:05 Mustonen, FP
shot from 25 yards out, just high over crossbar
-Substitution, FP
Verdoes for Pihlblad
31:00 Alfredsen, UCSD shot on breakaway to low left corner, save Higgins out of bounds. UCSD Corner kick. Kicked out of bounds. FP
goalkick
34:10 FP
foul at midfield
35:10 Cohanon, UCSD shot from 35 yards, save Higgins
37:00 FP
Corner kick, Uusmalmi
37:23 Petronis, FP
shot from near corner, save Pomi
37:49 Caesar, FP
shot from 25 yards wide right
38:16 UCSD substitutions
41:15 UCSD substitutions
43:34 FP
foul in UCSD box. Two UCSD players down, clock stopped
44:50 Caesar, FP
shot from 25 yards, save Pomi
-Halftime-
-2nd Half-
47:00 UCSD Corner kick
47:50 Verdpes, FP
header from 7 yards on cross from Mustonen cleared off line by UCSD defender.
52:00 Mustonen, FP
shot from 12 yards to lower corner, save Pomi
55:00 Mustonen taken down in oenalty box, no call
56:00 FP
yellow card, Petronis tackle on goalkeeper
57:00 UCSD Corner kick
61:00 UCSD Corner kick
70:00 Mustonen, FP
shot after moving past two UCSD defenders blocked out of bounds, FP
Corner kick
71:00 FP
substitution Pihlblad in for Caesar
-11 Minutes remaining-
82:00 Dostelak, UCSD, shot on breakawy, great save, Higgins, Dostelak shot off rebound wide right.
87:06 FP
GOAL!!!! Mustonen, FP
juked three defenders on end line and put shot in far upper 90, unassisted
87:35 UCSD Corner kick
End of Regulation
-Overtime 15:00-
91:00 Mustonen, FP
header from 10 yards save Pomi
93:00 Dostelak, UCSD shot off breakaway hit left post
94:34: UCSD GOAL. Erika Alfredsen, shot from 8 yards hit top of crossbasr and into net on a cross from Kristy Abizaid after a defensive miscue in the FP
box. Game over, UCSD advances

Corner Kicks: FP 4, UCSD 9
Shots: FP 19, UCSD 11