Athletics - Franklin Pierce University

Demoner netted her second goal of the Tournament to help Brazil capture the bronze medal.

Demoner Leads Brazil
to World University Games Bronze
Franklin Pierce All-American nets goal
in 2-1 victory over Ireland

BANGKOK, Thailand (August 17, 2007) – Franklin Pierce University senior All-American Gabriela Demoner (Curitiba, Brazil) led Brazil to a World University Games bronze medal as result of a 2-1 victory over the Republic of Ireland at Royal Thai Army Stadium today.

Demoner scored the opening goal of the match in the 21^st minute as Brazil opened a 2-0 lead before halftime and held on for the 2-1 victory over Ireland, captained by former Franklin Pierce All-American Sonya Hughes. The goal for Demoner was her second of the Tournament as she also scored in Brazil’s opening 6-2 victory over eventual silver medalists Russia on August 7.

Hughes finished the tournament with a goal, scoring the lone marker in Ireland’s 1-0 victory over France in Monday’s quarterfinal round. DPR Korea, who advanced past Brazil in a penalty shootout in the semifinals, captured the gold medal today with a 1-0 victory over Russia.

Former Ravens All-American and assistant coach Sonya Hughes captained Ireland in today's bronze medal match.

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. In addition to Hughes, who is participating in her second-straight Games as well as Demoner, former All-American Laura Hislop was teammate of Hughes for 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.