2004 NE-10 TOURNAMENT SEMIFINAL
Top-Seeded Franklin Pierce 
Advances Past Saint Rose, 5-0
Ravens to face third-seeded Assumption 
for fifth-straight title on Sunday

RINDGE, N.H. (November 3, 2004) – Top-seeded Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 4 in this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, jumped out to a quick lead, then iced the match with three second-half goals to claim a 5-0 victory over fourth-seeded College of Saint Rose in semifinal round action of the Northeast-10 Conference women’s soccer tournament this afternoon.

            Franklin Pierce (17-1, 13-1 NE-10) advances to its fifth-straight NE-10 Championship match where it will seek a record-matching fifth title on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Ravens will host third-seeded Assumption College (14-4-0, 10-4 NE-10), who posted a 1-0 victory over seventh-seeded Southern Connecticut State University this afternoon. The Greyhounds will be participating in third Conference Championship match, returning for the first time since 1999. Saint Rose (13-4-2, 9-3-2 NE-10) now awaits word on a possible third-straight NCAA Tournament berth to be announced on Monday.            

Franklin Pierce got a pair of goals from junior All-American Laura Hislop (Belfast, Northern Ireland) and a goal and assist from senior All-American Meghan Welcome (Haverhill, Mass./Haverhill). Freshman goalkeeper Jenna Mello (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) was credited with her sixth shutout of the season with a pair of saves.

            The Ravens jumped ahead just 61-seconds into the match as freshman midfielder Taryn Welker (Wayne, Pa./Conestoga) pounced on a Saint Rose turnover at the top of the penalty box, then carried the ball into the area before firing a shot past helpless junior goalkeeper Kat Marasia (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) for her first collegiate goal.

            Welcome put Franklin Pierce up a pair in the 22^nd minute when a cross from junior Sonya Hughes (Balbriggan, Ireland) sent her in on a break for a shot into the right corner of the net.            

Franklin Pierce turned on the pressure even more in the second half with Hislop netting the next two markers. She headed in a cross by Welcome from the left side at the far post which caught the Saint Rose keeper out of position in the 53^rd minute, then scored on a 40-yard free kick from the right channel into the upper right corner in the 67^th.

            Senior midfielder Martta Makila (Vantaa, Finland) rounded out the scoring in the 77^th minute when she rifled in a shot off a failed Saint Rose clear just inside the right post.

            Marasia finished the match with two saves in just over 58-minutes of work, before giving way to freshman Lauren Steinberg (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay), who made one stop over the final 31:32.

            Franklin Pierce out-shot the Golden Knights, 12-10, for the match, but the advantage was 8-2 on goal. Saint Rose’s best chance came just before halftime when senior Renae Ransdell (Richland, Wash./Richland) was in on a break with a defender on her hip in the 43^rd minute, but her shot went straight at Mello in the Ravens goal for an easy catch save.

MATCH STATISTICS