Saint
Michael’s Edges #22 Franklin Pierce, 1-0
Purple
Knights hand Ravens first home shutout in 15 years
RINDGE,
N.H. (September 6, 2006) – Saint
Michael’s College scored on a counter attack late in the first half
and made it stand to hand Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 22 in this
week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas
Division II poll, a 1-0 setback in Northeast-10 Conference women’s
soccer action at Sodexho Field tonight.
Saint Michael’s hands Franklin
Pierce its first home shutout since Keene State College claimed a 3-0
decision over the Ravens on November 5, 1991. The Ravens have now lost
back-to-back Conference matches for the first time in program history
and have been shutout in consecutive matches for the first time since
a 1-0 loss at Saint Anselm College on October 26, and a 0-0 draw at
Keene State on Oct. 28, 1990. Franklin Pierce last lost consecutive
matches on October 2-3, 1993, to Sonoma State University (4-3) and
Mercyhurst College (2-1).
Saint Michael’s, out-shot 14-2 for
the match (7-0 in the second half), scored the lone goal of the match
just 2:37 before halftime as freshman Lauren
Whalley (Shelburne, Vt./Holderness School)
connected with junior Misha
Hudak (West Danville, Vt./Saint Johnsbury Academy)
on a counter-attack down the right side. Hudak spotted Franklin Pierce
junior goalkeeper Jenna
Mello (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry)
off her line and chipped a shot into the upper left corner of the goal
from just outside the penalty area for her first goal of the season.
Juniors Molly
Cole (Dover, N.H./Dover)
and Gillian
Goldman (Stratham, N.H./Exeter)
split the goalkeeping duties for Saint Michael’s. Cole made three
stops over the opening 45-minutes, while Goldman’s lone save was a
key stop late in regulation to preserve the shutout.
Franklin Pierce, which placed just
five of its 14 shots on target (two on goal in the second half),
nearly took the lead in the 37th minute, but Cole made a
nice save to her right just inside the post on a Rebecca
Westbury (Northbridge, Mass./Northbridge)
header off a free kick.
The Ravens best chance came late in
regulation on a loose ball inside the six-yard box in the 88th
minute. Senior All-American Alex
Scavo (Toronto, Ontario/Brother Andre)
had a wide-open shot with Goldman out of position cleared off the line
by Saint Michael’s junior Katie
Burdett (Milford, N.H./Milford),
but the rebound went directly to freshman Shannon
Mulvey (Worcester, Mass./Burncoat).
However, Mulvey’s shot at the open net was stopped by a late lunging
effort from Goldman.
Franklin Pierce (1-2, 0-2 NE-10)
looks to rebound on Saturday when it hosts Bryant University, ranked
fourth in this week’s NSCAA/adidas Division II New England Region
poll, at 1 p.m. Saint Michael’s (3-2, 1-2 NE-10) hosts 10th-ranked
Merrimack College on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
MATCH
STATISTICS & PLAY-BY-PLAY