2006 NORTHEAST-10 TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP #10 Franklin Pierce Tops Bryant, 3-1
Ravens capture seventh-straight NE-10 Tournament title Demoner nets match-winner, named Tournament MVP
RINDGE, N.H. (October 29, 2006) - Second-seeded Franklin Pierce, ranked tenth in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II women's poll, captured its record seventh-straight Northeast-10 Conference Tournament Championship with a 3-1 victory over fourth-seeded Bryant University at Sodexho Field this afternoon.
Franklin Pierce, out-shot by Bryant 7-2 in the first half, came out strong in the second half with junior Gabriela Demoner (Curitiba, Brazil) putting the Ravens ahead for good when she took a pass from the right side by sophomore Ann Foley (Rockland, Mass./Rockland), beat one defender, and fired a low drive into the left corner of the goal for her team-leading 12th marker of the season. Demoner was later named Tournament MVP for her efforts. The Ravens have won all seven NE-10 Tournament titles since joining the Conference prior to the 2000 season.
Junior goalkeeper Jenna Mello (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) made five saves (four first half) to preserve the win for Franklin Pierce, its 16th-straight. Bryant freshman goalkeeper Katie Mitchell (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park) finished with two saves (both second half) as the Bulldogs were out-shot 11-9 (9-2 second half) for the match.
Franklin Pierce took its first lead in the 22nd minute when junior Laura Stockdale (Sunderland, England) broke in one-on-one with Mitchell after a long pass from the back by senior All-American Alex Scavo (Toronto, Ontario/Brother Andre) was flicked into the left channel by junior Jenna Giardina (Pittsfield, Mass./Taconic). Stockdale scored with a low shot into the right side of the net.
Bryant equalized in the 38th minute when senior Casey Grange (Methuen, Mass./Central Catholic) one-timed a sharp cross from the left side by junior Tricia Spada (Dedham, Mass./Dedham) into an open net for her team-leading 19th goal of the season.
Freshman Shona Franklin (Leicester, England) gave the Ravens an insurance goal with just 1:35 left in regulation when she broke through a pressing Bryant defense on a counter-attack and slipped a shot past a charging Mitchell into the right side of the net for her sixth goal of the season.
Franklin Pierce (17-2-0, 12-2-0 NE-10) and Bryant (15-7-1, 9-4-1 NE-10) both await official word from the NCAA Championships Committee on likely NCAA Tournament bids to be release Monday afternoon. The Ravens, now 37-0-1 all-time at home in postseason play, will be making its Division II record 15th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance.