Third-seeded Ravens head to Bryant sub-regional, face sixth-seeded Holy Family Friday at 4 p.m.

RINDGE, N.H. (November 5, 2007) – The Franklin Pierce University women’s soccer team has received an at large bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Ravens have earned one of four at large bids to the NCAA New England Regional and will head to the sub-regional hosted by Bryant University on Friday, November 9.

Franklin Pierce (13-1-5, 9-1-4 NE-10), ranked 16th in the most recent National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, are one of three teams that will participate in a “sub-regional” hosted by Bryant University Friday, November 9, and Sunday, November 11. The third-seeded Ravens will face sixth-seeded Holy Family University (14-7-0, 11-0-0 CACC), who earned the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference’s automatic bid, in a first round contest on Friday at Bryant’s Turf Field complex at 4 p.m.

The winner of Friday’s match will face host and second-seeded Bryant (17-1-5, 11-0-3 NE-10), ranked eighth nationally, on Sunday at 1 p.m. Top-seeded and No. 3-ranked College of Saint Rose (18-0-2, 12-0-2 NE-10), NE-10 regular season and tournament champions, will host the second “sub-regional” for the New England Region. Fifth-seeded University of Massachusetts Lowell (11-8-1, 6-7-1 NE-10) and fourth-seeded Merrimack College (12-4-4, 8-3-3 NE-10) round out the New England Regional field and will square off in Albany, N.Y., on Friday with the winner facing Saint Rose on Sunday (1 p.m.).

Franklin Pierce is making its 16th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, but hit the road for the New England Regional for the first time since 2000 when the Ravens traveled to Southern Connecticut State University for the regional final (3-1 win). Franklin Pierce has won 11-straight New England Regional titles and are in search of its NCAA Division II record 14th Final Four appearance and record sixth National Championship.

Franklin Pierce is 4-0 all-time against Holy Family, including a 6-0 victory over the Tigers in the season-opener for both back on August 24 in Philadelphia, Pa. Senior All-American Gabriela Demoner (Curitiba, Brazil), the NE-10 Player of the Year, led the Ravens with two goals and an assist. The two teams will meet in postseason play for the first time on Friday.

Franklin Pierce is 10-1-2 all-time against Bryant, including a 1-0-1 mark in postseason play. However, Franklin Pierce has yet to defeat Bryant in two meetings in 2007 as the Bulldogs claimed a 2-1 victory in the regular season before the two sides played to a scoreless double-overtime draw in the NE-10 semifinal last Thursday, with Bryant advancing to the NE-10 Championship on penalty kicks (7-6). The Ravens are 5-1-1 all-time against Bryant in Smithfield, R.I. Sunday would mark the first ever meeting between the two programs in NCAA Tournament play.


2007 NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Championship
New England Regional
Hosted by Bryant University & The College of Saint Rose

Friday, November 9

Saint Rose sub-regional
#5 UMass Lowell (11-8-1) vs. #4 Merrimack (12-4-4), Time TBA

Bryant sub-regional
#6 Holy Family (14-7-0) vs. #3 Franklin Pierce (13-1-5), Time TBA

Sunday, November 11
UMass Lowell/Merrimack winner at #1 Saint Rose (18-0-2), 1 p.m.
Holy Family/Franklin Pierce winner at #2 Bryant (17-1-5), 1 p.m.

November 15 or 16
Location TBA
New England Regional Championship
Northeast Regional Championship

November 17 or 18
Location TBA
NCAA Quarterfinal