Ravens seek third-straight NE-10 tourney championship tomorrow at 1 p.m.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (November 2, 2002) - Top-seeded Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 4 in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, netted three first half goals to open an early lead and cruised past fourth-seeded Bentley College in semifinal round action of the Northeast-10 Conference women's soccer tournament at Bulldog Stadium on the Bryant College campus today.

Franklin Pierce (15-0-2) advances to the Northeast-10 Conference Championship match for the third-straight year and look for its third-straight tournament title against the winner of today's second semifinal between second-seeded College of Saint Rose (15-3) and third-seeded Merrimack College (10-3-1).

Franklin Pierce claims its fifth-straight shutout in NE-10 tournament play and will carry a string of 453 shutout minutes in Conference play dating back to its 3-2 victory over Southern Connecticut State University in the 2000 NE-10 title match. Junior Aase Kibsgaard (Korgen, Norway) and sophomore Keeley Rafter (Gloucester, Mass./Gloucester) combined for the shutout this afternoon, with Kibsgaard totaling one save in 82-minutes of action before Rafter made two stops over the final eight minutes.

Senior midfielder Andrea Caesar (Visby, Sweden) totaled a goal and an assist in the opening 45-minutes as the Ravens jumped out to 3-0 lead by the intermission. Caesar opened the scoring just 3:49 into the match as she curled in a direct kick from the right side into the upper left corner of the net.

Caesar set up the Ravens second marker at the 14:57-mark when she sent in a sharp cross that was headed in by classmate Angela Verdoes (Katwijk Aan Zee, Holland) in the middle of the 18-yard box.

SophomoreMeghan Welcome (Haverhill, Mass./Haverhill) closed out the first half scoring just 2:20 before the intermission when she knocked in a loose ball at the far post after Bentley junior goalkeeper Erin Fahey failed to corral a cross from the far flank.

Senior Anumari Ylesmaki (Vantaa, Finland) scored the lone goal of the second half when classmate Kamille Rosenfalck's (Borup, Denmark) through ball sent her in one-on-one with Fahey for a wide-open shot at the 78:32-mark.

Fahey finished the match with six saves as Bentley (9-5-3) looks to a possible ECAC Tournament berth.

The Falcons best scoring chance of the match came in the 50th minute when junior Sarah Benson (Oxford, Mass./Oxford) had a shot cleared off the goal line by Franklin Pierce junior defender Alana Sullivan (Dorchester, Mass./Mitchell College).

#1 Franklin Pierce 4, #4 Bentley 0 

Scoring Summary: FP: Andrea Caesar (unassisted), 3:49; FP: Angela Verdoes (Caesar), 14:57; FP: Meghan Welcome (unassisted), 42:40. FP: Anumari Ylesmaki (Kamille Rosenfalck), 78:32.
Goalkeepers: BC: Erin Fahey (90:00), six saves; FP: Aase Kibsgaard (82:00), one save, Keeley Rafter (8:00), two saves.
Shots: BC: 7, FP: 14.