Ravens reach regional final for 12th-straight year behind strong defensive effort

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (November 11, 2007) – Third-seeded Franklin Pierce University, ranked 16th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II coaches’ poll advances to the NCAA Division II New England Regional final for the 12th-straight year following a 3-0 victory at second-seeded and host Bryant University on its Turf Field this afternoon.

Franklin Pierce (15-1-5) will now travel to top-seeded and 3rd-ranked College of Saint Rose (19-0-2) for the NCAA Division II New England Regional Championship on Friday (Time TBA). The winner will face the winner of the Northeast Regional (also to be played in Albany) on Sunday at the Albany Academy for Girls as well. Bryant (17-2-5) closes out its season, and with its imminent move to NCAA Division I, its Division II record with three NCAA Tournament berths. Saint Rose advanced to the regional final for the second-straight year with a 3-1 win over fourth-seeded Merrimack College (13-5-4) today in Albany.

“It’s been a long time since we played (Saint Rose) in early September,” said Franklin Pierce Head Coach Jeff Bailey. “We have to prepare and I’m sure they’ve wanted to play us there for a while and now they have their chance.”

Franklin Pierce and Saint Rose played to a scoreless double-overtime draw at Sodexho Field in Rindge, N.H., on September 1. The Golden Knights claimed a 4-0 triumph the last time the Ravens ventured to Albany, N.Y., during the 2006 regular season. These two teams also squared off for the 2006 regional title, with Franklin Pierce grabbing a 3-1 victory at Sodexho Field.

Franklin Pierce scored all three goals this afternoon off set pieces and used a strong defensive effort to avenge a 2-1 regular season setback and penalty kick shootout loss in the Northeast-10 Tournament to Bryant. The Ravens have not conceded a goal in the postseason so far – a streak of 380 scoreless minutes which includes two NE-10 Tournament matches and their two NCAA Tournament wins.

“We gave up a lot of possession, playing with the one (forward),” said Bailey. “We played it the right way and played nice and smart defensively and took care of the set pieces.”

Junior goalkeeper Brittany Ester (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) made four saves to preserve her fourth-straight shutout (ninth of the season) for Franklin Pierce. She has not allowed a goal over her last 408:11 of play dating back to the 62nd minute of the Ravens 5-2 victory over Southern Connecticut State in their regular season finale.

Freshman Kelly Weygand (Bridgewater, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham) collected two assists and combined with sophomore Rachel Smith (Chichester, N.H./Bible Baptist School (Pa.)) to put the clamps on Bryant’s offensive efforts.

“We have a sophomore and a freshman playing the two center back positions, the two most important positions,” said Bailey. “They are really starting to communicate and work together. Rachel has been a monster all season and Kelly for a freshman is doing fantastic. They both played very well under pressure today.”

Weygand, who set up the match-winning goal in Friday’s 4-0 opening round victory over sixth-seeded Holy Family University, got the assist on what would prove to be the only goal Franklin Pierce would need this afternoon. She sent a free kick from 35-yards out on the left flank towards the far post, where senior midfielder Jenna Giardina (Pittsfield, Mass./Taconic) directed a header past Bryant sophomore goalkeeper Katie Mitchell (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park) just 7:55 into the match.

“After the last game playing 110-minutes here and couldn’t score, to break the duck I think it helps,” said Bailey. “I think the game Friday (against Holy Family) helped as well to get a few goals on this field and feel better about ourselves here.”

Bryant had arguably its two best scoring chances midway through the first half, which could have equalized the match. The Bulldogs failed to pull the trigger on two occasions during a scramble inside the penalty area in the 23rd, narrowly missing a back-heel attempt with an open net to culminate the bids. Freshman Kim Rich (Lancaster, Mass./Nashoba) had a shot from the right channel at the top of the 18 grab a deflection off a Franklin Pierce defender and drift wide of the right post in the 28th minute.

Franklin Pierce doubled its lead before halftime as senior All-American Gabriela Demoner (Curitiba, Brazil) was sandwiched by a pair of Bryant defenders just outside the penalty area and was awarded a free kick. Demoner bent the free kick over the wall and past a diving Mitchell into the right side of the net for her fourth goal of the regional (Conference-leading 27th of the season) at 34:27.

“It was nice to get one, but it was also nice to get the second one,” said Bailey. “I thought that took some pressure off because (Bryant) threatened quite a bit. We did well to keep them out, I thought.”

Franklin Pierce extended its lead to three goals 5:22 into the second half. Weygand again lofted a free kick from 35-yards out towards the far post and this time sophomore Mackenzie Bulych (Regina, Saskatchewan/Dr. Martin LeBoldus) got on the end of it and headed in her fifth goal of the season to all but ice the victory.

Bryant pushed forward in an attempt to get back in the match and tested Ester twice in the final ten minutes. Senior Stephanie Zalewski (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany) forced Ester into a nice save low to her right in the 80th minute. Rich saw a header in the 87th minute off a corner kick slip agonizingly over the crossbar.

“You know down three they are going to throw everything, bang it in there and get some half chances,” said Bailey. “We just didn’t do a good job of counter attacking and make them pay for sending so many forward.”