Third-seeded Ravens to host sixth-seeded Saint Anselm Sunday at 3 p.m.

RINDGE, N.H. (October 25, 2007) – The Franklin Pierce University women’s soccer team, ranked 17th in this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, opens defense of its Northeast-10 Conference record seven consecutive tournament titles with quarterfinal round action on Sunday at Sodexho Field.

Third-seeded Franklin Pierce (12-1-4, 9-1-4 NE-10), winners of all seven NE-10 Tournament titles since joining the Conference in 2000, will host sixth-seeded Saint Anselm College (9-7-3, 6-5-3 NE-10) on Sunday at 3 p.m. The match will kickoff an NE-10 Tournament doubleheader as Franklin Pierce will host Southern New Hampshire University in a men’s soccer quarterfinal at 6 p.m. Admission to both matches is free.

The winner of Sunday’s women’s quarterfinal will advance to Thursday’s semifinal round to face the winner of Sunday’s match between sixth-seeded UMass Lowell (11-7-1, 6-7-1 NE-10) and third-seeded Bryant University (16-0-4, 11-0-3 NE-10). Times for future rounds will be announced next week.

Franklin Pierce enters postseason play unbeaten over its last 12 and winners of three-straight. The Ravens have never lost in 40 postseason matches at home, posting a 38-0-2 record – including a 15-0-1 clip NE-10 Tournament matches at home.

Franklin Pierce is led by senior All-American Gabriela Demoner (Curitiba, Brazil) with a Conference-best 54 points and 22 goals, while she ranks second in the NE-10 with ten assists. Freshman Angelika Johansson (Falkenberg, Sweden) has totaled 11 goals and five assists for 27 points and ranks among NE-10 leaders in all three categories, while senior Jenna Giardina (Pittsfield, Mass./Taconic) shares the team lead with ten assists to go with five goals for 20 points. Demoner enters Sunday’s match just four shy 100 career points in just her second season at the University. Giardina notched her 50th career point in the Ravens regular season finale last Saturday.

Junior Brittany Ester (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) has played 1,070:58 over 12 matches in goal for Franklin Pierce this season. She has posted a 0.67 goals against average and .814 save percentage with five shutouts in her first season with the Ravens after transferring from Grossmont College.

Saint Anselm enters the postseason unbeaten over its last five and winners of two-straight. The Hawks, ranked sixth in the New England region, are led by sophomore Mary Kate Heavey (Medfield, Mass./Medfield) with four goals and an assist for nine points. Freshman Jennifer Pearl (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) has added four goals for eight points, while sophomore Heidi Reece (Hoosick Falls, N.Y./Hoosick Falls) has chipped in three goals and a team-best two assists for eight points.

Freshman Jacqueline Cooney (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) has played 1,324:31 in goal over 18 matches this season for Saint Anselm. She has posted a 0.96 goals against average and .823 save percentage with five shutouts.

Sunday will mark the 22nd meeting all-time between the two Granite State schools, just the second in postseason play. Franklin Pierce holds a 19-1-1 advantage in the all-time series, winning the lone postseason encounter with a 2-1 overtime triumph in the NE-10 semifinals at Sodexho Field last fall. Giardina played a role in both Raven goals with a goal and assist and Demoner netting the match-winner 7:42 into the extra session. Franklin Pierce posted a 4-0 victory in the regular season meeting between the two on September 15, netting all four goals in the first half. Demoner played a role in all four markers with two goals and two assists.


2007 Northeast-10 Conference Women’s Soccer Championship

QUARTERFINALS
Sunday, October 28
#8 Bentley (8-8-3, 5-6-3 NE-10) at #1 Saint Rose (15-0-2, 12-0-2 NE-10), 1 p.m.
#6 Saint Anselm (9-7-3, 6-5-3 NE-10) at #3 Franklin Pierce (12-1-4, 9-1-4 NE-10), 3 p.m.
#5 Stonehill (8-6-3, 8-3-3 NE-10) at #4 Merrimack (11-3-4, 8-3-3 NE-10), 5 p.m.
#7 UMass Lowell (11-7-1, 6-7-1 NE-10) at #2 Bryant (16-0-4, 11-0-3 NE-10), 5 p.m.

SEMIFINALS
Thursday, November 1
Bentley/Saint Rose vs. Stonehill/Merrimack, TBA
UMass Lowell/Bryant vs. Saint Anselm/Franklin Pierce, TBA

CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunday, November 4
Semifinal winners, TBA