#18 Franklin Pierce Runs Past Southern Connecticut, 5-2
Demoner plays role in four of five goals as Ravens roll into postseason unbeaten in last 12
 

RINDGE, N.H. (October 20, 2007) – Franklin Pierce University, ranked 18^th in this week’s National Soccer Coaches’ Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, rounded out its regular season schedule with a 5-2 victory over Southern Connecticut State University in Northeast-10 Conference women’s soccer action at Sodexho Field this afternoon.

 

Franklin Pierce (12-1-4, 9-1-4 NE-10) will head into the Northeast-10 Tournament as the third seed and open defense of its record seven-straight Tournament titles as it hosts a quarterfinal round match next Sunday, October 28, (Time TBA) against an opponent to be determined by Tuesday’s final round of regular season NE-10 matches. The Ravens will face either Bentley College or Saint Anselm College in the opening round pending Bentley’s result against Merrimack on Tuesday. Southern Connecticut State (7-8-2, 4-8-2 NE-10) has one more regular season match at Le Moyne College on Tuesday at 3 p.m.

 

Senior All-American Gabriela Demoner (Curitiba, Brazil) sent Franklin Pierce soaring into the playoffs, playing a role in four of the Ravens five goals as she netted her second hat trick of the week and added an assist for a career-best seven points in the contest. Sophomore back Rachel Smith (Chichester, N.H./Bible Baptist School (Pa.)) added a goal and assist, while senior midfielder Jenna Giardina (Pittsfield, Mass./Taconic) scored a goal to record her 50^th career point.

 

Junior goalkeeper Brittany Ester (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) finished with three saves for Franklin Pierce, while freshman Katie Didio (Vernon, Conn./Rockville) had four saves in just under 80-minutes of work for Southern Connecticut. The Ravens out-shot the Owls 15-7 for the match, including a 7-1 margin in the first half.

 

Demoner scored both Franklin Pierce goals in the first half, opening the scoring with a penalty kick 7:53 into the match after she was hauled down on the right side of the penalty area. Smith connected with Demoner on a long pass from beyond the halfway line to double the Ravens advantage in the 39^th minute. Demoner took the pass and deposited a chip from the upper left corner of the 18 into the right side of the net.

 

Southern Connecticut cut its deficit in half just 4:28 into the second half as Ester and a Raven defender had a miscommunication at the top of the penalty area and freshman Lindsay Stanton (Oxford, Conn./Masuk) swiped the loose ball and fired a low shot into the open net from ten yards out. Franklin Pierce answered right back when Smith got on the end of a Demoner free kick from the left flank and headed the ball into the right side of the net in the 54^th minute.

 

Southern again closed within a goal when sophomore Ashley Knight (Rockland, Mass./Rockland) fired a rocket from deep down the right flank into the upper left corner of the goal in the 62^nd minute.

 

Franklin Pierce responded with two goals in an 80-second span to seal the victory and extend its unbeaten run to 12 matches. Senior Thatiane Preisler (Curitiba, Brazil) slotted a pass through group of defenders to release Demoner down the left side before she fired a drive into the right side of the goal from just outside the penalty area in the 73^rd minute. Giardina followed with a header from the top of the six off a cross from the right side by senior Taryn Welker (Wayne, Pa./Conestoga) in the 74^th minute.

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