Makila and Welcome earn their first NCAA honors of careers

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (December 9, 2002) - Upon returning to campus on Sunday afternoon, two members of the Franklin Pierce women's soccer team learned they had been named to the All-Tournament team for the 2002 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Final Four in Virginia Beach, Va.

Sophomores Martta Makila (Vantaa, Finland) and Meghan Welcome (Haverhill, Mass./Haverhill) were both selected after the National Championship match in which No. 2 Christian Brothers University edged No. 3 University of Nebraska-Omaha, 2-1, yesterday at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex.

Makila, an All-Northeast-10 Conference pick, led Franklin Pierce in scoring in its three NCAA Tournament matches, netting three goals for six points. All three of her markers opened the Ravens scoring in the three matches. In Friday night's semifinal round loss to Nebraska-Omaha, Makila netted an equalizing goal just 1:35 before halftime after the Mavericks had taken the lead in the 30th minute. She was also cited with NE-10 Player of the Week accolades this afternoon for the first time in her career.

Makila also registered an equalizing goal in the Ravens 2-1 win over No. 12 Merrimack College in the New England Regional final and opened the scoring in a 2-1 win at No. 10 Adelphi University in the quarterfinals. She finished the season with nine points on four goals and an assist and was an integral part of a Franklin Pierce defense that led the Conference and ranked among National leaders, allowing 0.57 goals per match.

Welcome, the 2002 Northeast-10 Player of the Year, also earned her first NCAA All-Tournament team selection. She totaled three of the Ravens ten shots in the match on Friday night, putting pressure on the UNO backs all night long. Welcome netted the match-winning goal in the Ravens 2-1 overtime win over Merrimack in the regional final.

Welcome, a two-time All-Conference selection, led the Conference in scoring this season with 46 points and 20 goals (eight match-winners) to go along with six assists. Her 46 points set a new school single-season mark by US-born players, surpassing the previous high of 41 set by Beth Ondrick in 1990.

Franklin Pierce, which advanced to the Final Four a record 11th straight season, wrapped up its season with an 18-1-2 record overall. The Ravens claimed its third-straight NE-10 Tournament title and second-straight regular season championship since entering the NE-10 three years ago with a 12-0-2 Conference mark.