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RINDGE, N.H. (September
30, 2000) - History indeed repeats itself.
Matched against defending
NAIA national champion Lynn University in the
second game of the 1996 season, the Franklin Pierce University
women's soccer team gave up a
two-goal lead in the final 27 minutes of the
match and ended up losing 3-2.
Saturday, matched against
defending 1999 NAIA national champion Westmont
(Calif.) College, the Ravens again gave up a
two-goal lead and ended up losing 3-2 in overtime.
The loss, played out
in front of a crowd of 350 on a sunny day at
Crystal Field, was the first home loss for FP
(6-1) since that loss to Lynn.
Christine Kirby (Florida,
N.Y.) scored off a header in the 37th minute
and Minna Mustonen (Helsinki, Finland) scored
on a long through pass from Anumari Ylesmaki
(Vantaa, Finland) in the 67th minute as the
Ravens built a 2-0 lead.
FPC, ranked No. 1 again this year, appeared
to be in control in the second half, but Westmont
(9-2) showed why it is ranked No. 1 in the NAIA
as it rallied to score twice in the final five
minutes of regulation to force overtime.
Lauren Schick (Irvine,
Calif.) scored in the 86th minute on a ball
that just eluded the grasp of FP
goalkeeper
Kara Shemeth (Edgartown, Mass.) It was the first
goal the junior keeper has allowed thisyear.
Janel Kaden tied the
match with 43 seconds left in regulation when
she beat Shemeth to a back pass from FP
defender
Sinikka Salomaa (Tampere, Finland).
The Warriors carried
that momentum into sudden-death overtime, ending
the match in the 100th minute when Janee' Andre'
(Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) scored on a direct kick
from 30 yards.
FPC, which resumes
action Tuesday at home against UMass Lowell,
held the advantage in shots (17-12) and corner
kicks (6-5).
Now, the Ravens can
only hope this cycle continues full circle:
After that loss in 1996, FP
went on to win
the national championship.
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