Smith nets a goal in each half, Ravens host sixth-seeded Saint Anselm Friday

RINDGE, N.H. (October 24, 2006) - Second-seeded Franklin Pierce, ranked 10^th in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, advanced past seventh-seeded Stonehill College with a 2-0 victory in quarterfinal round action of the 2006 Northeast-10 Conference Women's Soccer Championship at Sodexho Field this afternoon.

Franklin Pierce (15-2) advances to Friday's semifinal round and will host sixth-seeded Saint Anselm College (10-6-3) at 4 p.m. The Hawks upset third-seeded and No. 24-ranked UMass Lowell, 1-0, in another quarterfinal tonight. Stonehill completes its season with a 6-6-4 overall mark, making its first postseason appearance in five years.           

Freshman Rachel Smith (Carlisle, Pa./Bible Baptist School) provided the offense for Franklin Pierce, notching the first multi-goal match of her collegiate career. Junior goalkeeper Jenna Mello (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) made four saves (three second half) to preserve the victory and her eighth shutout of the season (23^rd career).

Smith put the Ravens on the board in the 31^st minute when she gathered a cross from the right side by junior Laura Stockdale (Sunderland, England) and beat a Stonehill defender before slotting a shot into the left side of the net.

Smith added an important insurance marker in the 74^th minute when she pounced on a failed clear attempt and put her first touch into the goal for her fifth tally of the season.

Franklin Pierce squandered a pair of golden scoring chances in the first ten minutes of the second half and Stonehill nearly capitalized. The Skyhawks appeared to net an equalizing goal midway through the half, but the play was whistled dead on a foul before the goal crossed the goal line.

Junior Alex Eckhardt (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) finished with five saves in goal for Stonehill, which was out-shot 15-7 for the match (6-2 in the opening half).

MATCH STATISTICS & PLAY-BY-PLAY