Saint Rose scores in 81st minute; Leon turns in strong performance

ALBANY, N.Y. (November 20, 2009) – The 20th-ranked Franklin Pierce University women’s soccer team dropped a tough 1-0 decision to No. 2 Saint Rose on Friday in the East Region Championship of the NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Tournament. The third-seeded Ravens concluded their season with an 18-5-1 record, while top-seeded Saint Rose improved to 23-0-0.

The Golden Knights got all the scoring they needed in the 81st minute when Amanda Deck gained control of a long pass and dribbled down the right side of the box. She blasted a high shot that Franklin Pierce goalkeeper Jocelyn Leon (Lenox, Mass.) initially got her hands on, but the ball skipped high and into the upper right corner of the goal. It was Deck’s ninth goal of the season.

The goal, however, did not change the fact that Leon had a strong sophomore season for the Ravens. In her first full season of action, she compiled a 13-3-0 record and eight shutouts. Leon made all five of her saves in the second half.

Saint Rose out-shot Franklin Pierce, 11-6, in the contest, including an 11-3 advantage in corner kick opportunities.

Most of the action centered around midfield in the first half as both teams fought hard to control the ball. Each team had a header attempt in the opening 45 minutes that just missed squeezing into the net for a goal. Saint Rose had its attempt off a corner kick that smacked off the post early in the contest. Franklin Pierce had its opportunity late in the first half, but Gabriela Demoner’s (Vitoria, Brazil) header attempt just went wide of the goal.

Saint Rose out-shot the Ravens, 3-2, in the opening half and held a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks.

The early stages of the second half saw the game remain scoreless. However, both teams had several strong opportunities. The Golden Knights had three shots inside the box, but Leon made three outstanding saves to keep it scoreless.

Franklin Pierce had a good scoring opportunity in the opening minutes of the second half off a free kick by Demoner, but the Ravens could not convert that kick or the follow-up by Shona Franklin (Birmingham, England).

Friday’s match marked the third time this season both teams had met on the pitch, with the Golden Knights winning all three decisions. By winning Friday’s match, Saint Rose advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals on Sunday in Albany.

For more information on Franklin Pierce women’s soccer, please visit the team’s page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.)