Ravens advance to record 11th-straight Final Four, will face Nebraska-Omaha

GARDEN CITY,N.Y. (November 24, 2002) - Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 4 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, advanced to its record 11th-straight NCAA Women's Soccer Final Four with a 2-1 victory over No. 10 Adelphi University at Stiles Field this afternoon.

Franklin Pierce (18-0-2) will face No. 3 University of Nebraska-Omaha in an NCAA semifinal on Friday, December 6, in Virginia Beach, Va. Nebraska-Omaha advanced to the Final Four with a 1-0 victory over No. 1-ranked Northern Kentucky University on Saturday. Adelphi wraps up its 2002 season with a 17-2-2 record.

The Ravens got the match-winning goal after Adelphi had squandered a pair of chances to go ahead. Senior Angela Verdoes (Katwijk Aan Zee, Holland) lofted a shot from the right flank 22-yards out that found the upper left corner of the net at the 67:41-mark.

"Getting that goal is just a relief," said Verdoes. "I saw the goalie coming out and I had noticed that she didn't come off the ground for balls so I just tried to go high far post and it went in."

The goal came moments after Adelphi sophomore Josephine Coiro missed a wide-open chance off the left side of the net in the 64th minute. The Panthers nearly knotted the match for a second time in the 85th minute, but junior Domonique Riccardo pulled a shot in the 18-yard box wide right. The Panthers also missed on a pair of crossing passes in front of the net.

Franklin Pierce took an early lead when sophomore Martta Makila (Vantaa, Finland) headed in a cross at the far post from seniorAndrea Caesar (Visby, Sweden) off a direct kick just 4:52 into the match.

"Once we capitalized first I thought we should have taken advantage of some other opportunities and didn't," said Franklin Pierce head coach, Jeff Bailey. "But to their credit, we just couldn't seem to get into their 30-yard area."

Adelphi equalized at the 29:14 mark when a corner kick from Coiro was knocked into the goal by sophomore Dina Cali (Valley Stream, N.Y./VS North) at the goal line.

The Panthers posted a narrow 6-5 advantage in shots for the match, which was dominated by midfield play. Ravens junior goalkeeper Aase Kibsgaard (Korgen, Norway) did not register a save in the match, while Adelphi junior Andrea Fasano made one stop.

"Nobody wants to be the ones that don't go," said Bailey of the pressure behind returning to an 11th-straight Final Four. "I'm especially proud and happy for the seniors."

Franklin Pierce 2, Adelphi 1

 Scoring Summary: FP: Martta Makila (Andrea Caesar), 4:52; AU: Dina Cali (Josephine Cairo), 29:14; FP: Angela Verdoes (unassisted), 67:41.
Goalkeepers: FP: Aase Kibsgaard (90:00), no saves; AU: Andrea Fasano (90:00), one save.
Shots: FP: 5; AU: 6.