#15 Franklin Pierce Clips
New Haven, 1-0
Giardina’s fifth goal in six matches
the difference as Ravens win ninth-straight

WEST HAVEN, Conn. (October 7, 2006) – Franklin Pierce, ranked 15^th in this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, scored 12-minutes into the second half to defeat the University of New Haven, ranked fifth in the Northeast Region, in a non-conference women’s soccer match at Dodds Stadium this afternoon.

            Franklin Pierce junior midfielder Jenna Giardina (Pittsfield, Mass./Taconic) scored the lone goal of the match at 56:46. A through ball from junior Laura Stockdale (Sunderland, England) was misjudged by New Haven senior goalkeeper Maureen MacConnell (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip), allowing Giardina to knock the loose ball into an open net. The goal is Giardina’s fifth of the season – all of which have come over the Ravens last six matches.           

Franklin Pierce has won nine-straight after suffering back-to-back shutout losses for the first time in 16 years, with five of the Ravens last six victories being decided by a single goal (including four 1-0 results).

            Junior goalkeeper Jenna Mello (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) made one save (first half) to preserve her sixth shutout of the season (21^st career) for Franklin Pierce. MacConnell finished with nine stops for New Haven, as the Ravens enjoyed a 19-8 advantage in shots for the match, including 10-2 on target.

            New Haven had a bid to equalize the match, but junior Amy Desmarais (South Windsor, Conn./South Windsor) had her dipping shot carom harmlessly off the crossbar in the 65^th minute.

            Franklin Pierce (10-2, 8-2 NE-10) is back in action on Wednesday when it travels to Bentley College for a Northeast-10 Conference match at 3:30 p.m. The Ravens are back home next Saturday, October 14, to host UMass Lowell at 2 p.m. New Haven (9-4-1, 5-1-0 East Coast Conference) hosts No. 14 Adelphi University on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

MATCH STATISTICS & PLAY-BY-PLAY