2003
NCAA DIVISION II
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For
the second time in the NCAA Tournament, Franklin Pierce fought back from
a 1-0 deficit for the victory. Junior All-American and two-time
Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Year Meghan
Welcome (Haverhill, Mass./Haverhill)
netted the winner in the 72nd minute, when she knocked in her
own rebound after her first kick deflected off the post and straight
back at her. Sophomore Laura
Hislop (Belfast, Northern Ireland)
was credited with her Division II-leading 23rd assist of the
season as she sent in a cross from the left side that found Welcome on
the near post.
“I wasn’t stopping until it was in the back of the net,”
said Welcome. “The first time I hit the post and then the goalkeeper
got a hand on the second one, but it still went in.”
The goal marked the first time Adelphi allowed two goals all
season as the Welcome marker was just the seventh goal the Panthers, the
top defensive team in Division II, yielded all season. It also marked
Welcome’s team-leading tenth match-winner of the season and third
career in an NCAA Tournament contest.
Franklin Pierce has now defeated Adelphi in an NCAA Quarterfinal
for the second-straight season and third time overall. The Ravens posted
identical 2-1 victories over the Panthers in the 1997 and 2002
quarterfinal rounds.
“They are a tremendous team,” said Adelphi Head Coach Rich Ilsley. “(Franklin Pierce) played terrific today. We knew we were going to face a tough team today, our players respected them, but we were not intimidated.”
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Adelphi
opened the scoring in the 34th minute when junior forward Josephine
Coiro (West Babylon, N.Y./West Babylon)
took a waist-high pass from senior Luciana
Pace (Bellmore, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy)
and kicked it over the charging effort of Franklin Pierce senior
goalkeeper Aase
Kibsgaard (Korgen, Norway).
The Ravens answered just 4:18 later as sophomore Sonya
Hughes (Balbriggan, Ireland)
collected a loose ball and chipped a shot over Adelphi senior goalkeeper
Andrea
Fasano (Syosset, N.Y./Syosset)
and inside the right post at 37:47.
“It was good to get that one back before halftime,” said
Bailey. “We had a chance for a second, but we looked a little ragged
for the first 20-25 minutes.”
Franklin Pierce had a chance to extend its lead to 3-1 four
minutes after Welcome’s winner when Hislop was tripped in the penalty
area. However, freshman sweeper Mia
Makarainen’s (Espoo, Finland)
penalty kick to the left side of the net was saved by Fasano.
“We’ve been practicing (penalty kicks) all week,” said
Bailey. “Mia had made all of hers, so the girls wanted to give her a
chance. It would have been nice to get that one so we wouldn’t have to
kill off the time as much.”
Franklin Pierce controlled much of the match after it fell
behind. The Ravens finished the match with a 21-9 shots advantage,
including 12-4 in the second half.
Fasano finished the match with nine saves, with her last coming
on the penalty kick. Kibsgaard made three saves, including one on the
Panthers best chance to equalize on a shot from senior Monica
Miller (Albuquerque, N.M./New Mexico)
that was headed inside the left post.
“(A trip to the Final Four) is what we’re here for,” said Hughes. “It’s (Hislop and my) job to help us get that ring. We have two more games to win now.”