Amanda Panaro, Shona Franklin and Kelly Weygand named to All-NE-10 First-Team

RINDGE, N.H. (October 29, 2010) – Seven members of the Franklin Pierce University women's soccer team were honored by the Northeast-10 with all-conference recognition on Friday, highlighted by junior forward Amanda Panaro (Rockland, Mass.), senior midfielder Shona Franklin (Birmingham, England) and senior back Kelly Weygand (Bridgewater, Mass.) being named first-team honorees.

The other four that were honored, included: junior midfielder Aya Noguchi (Tokyo, Japan) being named to the second-team; junior goalkeeper Jocelyn Leon (Lenox, Mass.) being named to the third-team; and freshmen Margret Thorolfsdottir (Reykjavit, Iceland) and Joanna Gibson (London, England) being named to the All-Rookie Team.

Panaro earned All-NE-10 honors for the second-consecutive season, as she was named to the second-team as a sophomore in 2009. Panaro had an outstanding 2010 regular season as she led the conference in goals (18), goals per game (1.06), points (39), points per game (2.29) and game-winning goals (6). She also ranked among the league leaders in shots (2nd, 84) and shots per game (2nd, 4.94). Panaro had a pair of seven-point performances during the season as she scored three goals and assisted on another in both matches. She first turned the trick in a 6-2 win over Felician on Sept. 4, and then matched the feat in a 5-0 win over Stonehill on Oct. 19.

Franklin earned all-league honors for the second-straight season and for the third time in her career. She earned second-team recognition last season and earned first-team honors as a freshman in 2006 when she was also named the NE-10 Rookie of the Year. This season, Franklin posted six goals and five assists for 17 points. Five of her six tallies went for game-winners, which was the third highest total in the conference. Franklin also ranked fifth in the NE-10 in total shots with 62.

Weygand earned all-conference honors for the first time in her career and it was a fitting award as she served as the anchor of Franklin Pierce's defensive unit during the regular season. As the team's centerback, Weygand helped spearhead an effort that produced eight shutouts, just 15 goals allowed (3rd fewest in the league) and a 0.87 goals against average.

Just like Weygand, Leon earned All-NE-10 accolades for the first time in her career as she helped produce the numbers listed above. Leon went 11-4-1 during the season with a 0.93 goals against average and a .789 save percentage.

Noguchi earned second-team accolades in her first season in a Ravens' uniform. She had two goals and two assists for six points and ranked third on the team in shots with 38.

Thorolfsdottir and Gibson were named to the All-Rookie Team following successful debuts in 2010. Thorolfsdottir had a pair of goals and three assists for seven points, while Gibson had a goal and played solid defensively all season long.

Franklin Pierce returns to action Sunday when the Ravens open Northeast-10 Tournament play by hosting a quarterfinal round match against Adelphi at 1 p.m. in Sodexo Field. The Ravens are seeded third in the NE-10 playoffs, while Adelphi is the sixth seed. Tickets for the match are $5 for adults, $3 for children and seniors, and $1 for college students (with ID) of the two competing schools. Franklin Pierce students who present an ID at the gate will have the cost of their ticket covered, courtesy of Athletics Department.

For more information on Franklin Pierce women's soccer, please visit the team's page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.) To follow the program even further, please visit Franklin Pierce Athletics on YouTube (www.youtube.com/FranklinPierceSports), Twitter (www.twitter.com/FPUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceAthletics).