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Posted: Oct 25, 2008

#15 Franklin Pierce Slips Past #21 Merrimack

#15 Franklin Pierce Slips Past #21 Merrimack
Box Score

Junior All-American Gabriela Demoner provided the lone goal of the match with a little luck to lift the Ravens past Merrimack this afternoon. PHOTO BY Greg Wall.

Demoner shot through goalkeeper hands the difference as Ravens win away from sixth NE-10 regular season title

Boxscore

RINDGE, N.H. (October 25, 2008) - Franklin Pierce University, ranked 15th in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, is just a win away from claiming its sixth Northeast-10 Conference regular season championship after notching a 1-0 victory over No. 21 Merrimack College in a battle between two of the three teams tied atop the Conference standings in women's soccer action at Sodexo Field this afternoon.

Franklin Pierce (12-3-1, 10-2-1 NE-10) can clinch at least a share of the NE-10 regular season title, along with The College of Saint Rose (13-3-1, 10-2-1), with a victory in its regular season finale on Wednesday at Stonehill College (3:30 p.m.) The Ravens would also earn the top seed in the upcoming NE-10 Tournament as a result of its head-to-head victory over Saint Rose earlier this season. 


Senior goalkeeper Brittany Ester made one second half save to preserve her sixth shutout of the season (19th career). PHOTO BY Richard Orr Sports Photography.

Junior All-American Gabriela Demoner (Curitiba, Brazil) scored the lone goal just 2:58 into the match when she directed a ball from 19-yards out on the right channel towards the goal that appeared like it would be scooped up by Merrimack senior goalkeeper Shannon Rowan (Fair Haven, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven). However, Rowan took her eye off the ball and it squirted through her hands and into the goal.

Senior goalkeeper Brittany Ester (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) made one second half save to preserve her sixth shutout of the season (19th career). Rowan finished with one stop for Merrimack, who was out shot by a slim 9-6 margin in the tightly contested match. Both teams mustered just three shots each in the second half.

Merrimack had a good opportunity to level the match just moments after Demoner's sixth goal of the season, but sophomore Ashley Alnwick (Groton, Mass./Groton-Dunstable) got the ball caught up in her legs long enough for Ester to charge off her line and smother the scoring chance in the seventh minute.

Demoner nearly added an insurance goal in the 69th minute, but her drive from 20-yards out just left of center, caromed off the left post with the keeper beaten.

Franklin Pierce will host a Northeast-10 Quarterfinal next Sunday, November 2, at a time to be announced. Merrimack (11-3-2, 9-3-1 NE-10) visits American International College on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.