Franklin Pierce Edges 
#23 Saint Anselm, 2-1
Scavo header lifts Ravens 
to third-straight victory

RINDGE, N.H. (September 16, 2006) – Franklin Pierce, among teams receiving votes in this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, collected a key early season victory with a 2-1 decision over No. 23 Saint Anselm College in Northeast-10 Conference women’s soccer action at Sodexho Field this afternoon.

            Senior All-America back Alex Scavo (Toronto, Ontario/Brother Andre) headed in a cross from junior Gabriela Demoner (Curitibas, Brazil) to put Franklin Pierce in front in the 74^th minute. Demoner’s cross from the left channel connected with Scavo mid goal just inside the top of the 18. It was Scavo’s first goal of the year.

            The Ravens opened the scoring just 4:55 into the match as freshman Shona Franklin (Leicester, England) followed up her own rebound with a drive into the lower right corner of the goal. Franklin’s second goal of the season marked the second-straight match she has scored in the opening five minutes. Her goal 4:59 into Tuesday’s contest set the tone for a 2-0 victory at Assumption College.            

Saint Anselm equalized 2:09 before the intermission when senior Jocelyn Savastano (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth North) laid a ball back from the top of the six to freshman Mary Kate Heavey (Medfield, Mass./Medfield) for a blast from the top of the 18 into the lower left corner and her third goal of the season.

            The goal came minutes after both sides had tremendous scoring chances thwarted by the opposing goalkeepers. Franklin Pierce junior Jenna Mello (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) charged well off her line to stop Savastano on a one-on-one counter attack break in the 35^th minute. Saint Anselm sophomore Michaela Smith (Andover, Mass./Andover) twice stopped Ravens senior Leanne Bowler (Clonalvy, Ireland) on a break in the 39^th minute. Smith charged out to block Bowler’s initial attempt and recovered just in time to stop the rebound after the ball fell back at Bowler’s feet.

            Saint Anselm had a bid to equalize a second time in the 89^th minute on a drive from senior Mairead Lundt (Atkinson, N.H./Timberlane) from well beyond the 18 that was drifting towards the upper left corner, but Mello was well positioned to make the catch save.

            Mello finished with three saves (two second half) to preserve the victory for Franklin Pierce, while Smith made seven stops for Saint Anselm. The Ravens finished with a 17-10 advantage in shots for the match, including 9-4 over the final 45-minutes.

            Franklin Pierce (4-2, 3-2 NE-10) returns to action on Wednesday when it visits Stonehill College, ranked fifth in the New England region, at 4 p.m. The Ravens return home on Tuesday, September 26, when they host No. 10 Merrimack College at 7 p.m. Saint Anselm (5-3, 2-2 NE-10) hosts Bentley College on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

MATCH STATISTICS & PLAY-BY-PLAY