#6 Franklin Pierce and
#11 Saint Rose Play
to Scoreless Draw
Mello & Steinberg combine to make ten saves in shutout performances

RINDGE, N.H. (September 1, 2007) – Franklin Pierce University, ranked No. 6 in this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II coaches’ poll, and 11^th-ranked College of Saint Rose played to a scoreless double-overtime draw in the Northeast-10 Conference women’s soccer opener for both at Sodexho Field this afternoon.

           

The match was a battle of the top two teams in the Northeast-10 from a season ago, as Saint Rose ended Franklin Pierce’s run of five-straight regular season conference crowns for its first NE-10 title, but the Ravens exacted revenge in the NCAA Tournament, eliminating the Golden Knights with a 3-1 triumph in the New England Regional final here in November.

           

There was not much to separate the two sides again this afternoon as neither team could capitalize on the few true scoring chances they had. Franklin Pierce enjoyed a 19-8 advantage in shots for the match, putting seven of those on target, compared to three on goal for Saint Rose. 11 of the Ravens shots came in the second half after shots were even at three at halftime. The Ravens also out-shot the Golden Knights, 5-1 in overtime – 4-0 in the opening 10 minutes of extra time.

           

Senior goalkeeper Jenna Mello (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) made three saves (all second half) to preserve her second shutout of the season (25^th career) for the Ravens. Senior Lauren Steinberg (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) collected seven saves for the Golden Knights for her first shutout of the year (21^st career).

 

            Senior All-American Gabriela Demoner (Curitiba, Brazil) had Franklin Pierce’s best chance of regulation, but her shot from 12 yards out on the right side just under the hour mark carried just over the crossbar. Saint Rose nearly took a lead of its own moments later as freshman Jazmine Farrell (Raritan, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) had Mello caught away from her net, but the chip attempt from long range finished well off target in the 66^th minute.

 

            Demoner had another bid in the 84^th minute on a breakaway, but Steinberg reacted well to smother the shot. The rebound trickled to the left side of the 18-yard box, but Demoner could only put the next shot off the side netting. Freshman Angelika Johansson (Falkenberg, Sweden) had the Ravens best chances of overtime, but placed a drive from 20-yards out in the 96^th minute straight at Steinberg and then saw a low shot beat the Saint Rose keeper only to trickle just wide of the left post.

    

        Franklin Pierce (2-0-1, 0-0-1 NE-10) is back in action on Wednesday when it visits Saint Michael’s College for an NE-10 clash at 4 p.m. The Ravens are not home again until Tuesday, September 11, when they host Assumption College at 7 p.m. Saint Rose (1-0-1, 0-0-1 NE-10) visits Pace University for a Conference contest on Monday at 11 a.m.

BOXSCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY