2006 NCAA DIVISION II NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL #6 Franklin Pierce Advances Past UMass Lowell in Shootout
Ravens avoid upset with late goal and 4-3 decision in PKs after two sides play to 1-1 draw
RINDGE, N.H. (November 3, 2006) - Top-seeded Franklin Pierce, ranked sixth in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II women's soccer poll, advanced via a penalty shootout (4-3) after playing to a 1-1 double-overtime draw with fourth-seeded University of Massachusetts Lowell, receiving votes nationally, in first round action of the 2006 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Tournament at Sodexho Field this evening.
Franklin Pierce was finally able to crack the UMass Lowell defense and freshman goalkeeper Jamie Gillis (North Billerica, Mass./North Billerica) in the 81st minute to send the match to overtime. Gillis, who finished with a season-high 13 saves, including nine over the second half and overtime, to keep the River Hawks in the match. The Ravens swarmed the UML goal, especially in the second half and overtime periods, posting a 23-11 advantage in shots (16-5 after halftime), including 15-4 on target.
Sophomore back Rebecca Westbury (Northbridge, Mass./Northbridge) served a free kick from 35-yards out down the left flank that junior Gabriela Demoner (Curitiba, Brazil) was able to flick past Gillis as she came off her line to attempt a play on the ball.
The goal capped a flurry of chances which were thwarted by Gillis as the Ravens pressed forward for the needed equalizer. Westbury had an open shot during a scramble off a corner kick cleared off the line by UMass Lowell freshman Kathleen Strazzere (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington) in the 74th minute. Gillis made two point-blank stops on successive shots inside the six by Franklin Pierce freshman Mackenzie Bulych (Regina, Saskatchewan/Dr. Martin LeBoldus) and senior back Alex Scavo (Toronto, Ontario/Brother Andre) just seconds before the equalizer in the 81st.
UMass Lowell opened the scoring late in the first half against the run of play as junior Tanekar Alexander (Warwick, R.I./CCRI) fired a cross from senior Kristin Mahoney (Newburyport, Mass./IUPFW) from 22-yards out into the right side of the goal.
The match moved into a penalty shootout after neither team managed to score in extra time. Franklin Pierce junior goalkeeper Jenna Mello (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) stopped the River Hawks first attempt by senior Tricia Auld (Waltham, Mass./Waltham).
Gillis evened things with a stop on Franklin Pierce junior Laura Stockdale (Sunderland, England) in the second round, but River Hawks senior Courtney Curran (Wakefield, Mass./Wakefield) pushed her attempt wide of the left post with Mello leaning the other way in the third round. Freshman Rachel Smith (Carlisle, Pa./Bible Baptist School) clinched the victory for the Ravens when she converted in the fifth round.
Mello finished with three saves for Franklin Pierce (two first half) as the Ravens remained unbeaten at home in their postseason history (37-0-2), despite suffering their first blemish at home in NCAA Tournament play (22-0-1).
Franklin Pierce (17-2-1) advances to Sunday's New England Regional final where it will face second-seeded and No. 15-ranked College of Saint Rose (17-2-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Golden Knights advanced with a 2-0 victory over third-seeded and No. 23-ranked Bryant University (15-8-1) in today's first match. The Ravens have captured all ten regional championships since the NCAA developed this current format. UMass Lowell, making its second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, concludes its season at 10-5-4 overall.