Athletics - Franklin Pierce University

Demoner & Brazil Fall to DPR Korea
in World University Games Semifinal
Brazil drop penalty shootout decision,
face Hughes & Ireland for Bronze Medal on Friday

BANGKOK, Thailand (August 15, 2007) – Franklin Pierce University senior All-American Gabriela Demoner (Curitiba, Brazil) and her Brazilian teammates hope for a second-straight World University Games gold medal came to an end today in a penalty shootout with DPR Korea at Royal Thai Army Stadium.

Brazil and DPR Korea played to a 1-1 draw, but Korea posted a 3-2 decision in the ensuing penalty shootout to advance to the Friday’s final. Demoner, who was cautioned in the 19^th minute, converted her penalty shot, but her teammates missed their first two before being edged after the fourth round. Brazil opened the scoring with a goal in the 30^th minute, but Korea equalized in the 56^th.

Brazil will now face Ireland, and former Franklin Pierce All-American Sonya Hughes (captain), for the bronze medal on Friday at 2 a.m. (EDT). Hughes and Ireland also fell in a shootout – 4-2 to Russia – after playing to a 1-1 draw as well.

Demoner will go for a bronze medal against Ireland on Friday at the World University Games.

Demoner, who helped lead Brazil to a gold medal at the 2005 World University Games in Izmir, Turkey, is the fourth Franklin Pierce student-athlete, and third women’s soccer player from the University, to represent their country at the WUG. She joins former All-Americans Laura Hislop and Sonya Hughes, who were teammates for the Republic of Ireland in 2005, and Tom Sadler, who played on the United Kingdom’s men’s basketball team in 2005, as WUG participants.

Demoner is heading into her second season at Franklin Pierce after totaling a team-high 15 goals and 12 assists for 42 points in 19 matches, bagging six match-winning goals in 2006. The Ravens posted a 17-1-1 record in matches she played, advancing to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division II Tournament after capturing their record seventh consecutive Northeast-10 Conference Tournament Championship.

Franklin Pierce (18-3-1, 12-2-0 NE-10 in 2006), ranked seventh in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II preseason poll released this week, opens its 2007 season at Holy Family University, in Philadelphia, Pa., on Friday, August 24, at 1 p.m. The Ravens first home match is a key NE-10 contest against The College of Saint Rose, on Saturday, September 1, at 1 p.m.