Nov. 5, 2009

Box Score

Audio Recap - The River Hawk Report - November 6, 2009

Senior M Gabriela Demoner scored two goals, including a free kick six minutes into overtime as No. 2 Franklin Pierce defeated No. 3 UMass Lowell, 2-1, Thursday afternoon in the Northeast-10 Conference Women’s Soccer Tournament semifinal at Sodexho Field.

With the loss, the River Hawks slipped to 12-5-3 and await NCAA Tournament bids, to be announced Monday at 7:00 p.m. Franklin Pierce moves on to visit No. 1 Saint Rose in the NE-10 Tournament Championship Sunday in Albany, NY.

Saint Rose defeated No. 4 Merrimack, 2-0, in the other semifinal round Thursday. The loss also marked the first time UMass Lowell surrendered more than one goal in a match since a 2-0 setback to Adelphi on Sept. 5.

“(Franklin Pierce) certainly had the run of play in the first half,” said UMass Lowell head coach Elie Monteiro. “Gabriela and Angelika (Johansson) were a handful. We found it difficult to get hold of the ball.”

Demoner opened the scoring in the 64th minute on a penalty kick, shortly after she was felled in the box by a defender. She tucked the kick in the low left corner just out of reach of senior G Jamie Gillis (North Billerica, MA).

The River Hawks applied the pressure, however, with quick attempts by freshman F Jenna Costa (North Attleboro, MA), which elicited a save from Raven goalkeeper Jocelyn Leon, and sophomore M Maddy Bissaillon (Merrimac, MA).

UMass Lowell’s pressure paid off in the 85th minute, however, when Bissaillon sent a free kick to senior D Colleen Fitzpatrick (Tewksbury, MA), whose header eluded Leon.

“That was a great goal to bring us back,” Monteiro said. “From then on we had the momentum. We were in the match for sure.”

Demoner nearly gave the Ravens the win with under a minute left in regulation, but her header off a cross was wide right.

The River Hawks pressured right off the kickoff and had three chances within the first five minutes. An attempt by sophomore D Hannah Merullo (Wakefield, MA) was snuffed by Leon in the 93rd.

In the 94th, freshman F Taylor Hartmann (Feeding Hills, MA) hit the crossbar and was again denied two minutes later, when her attempt drew a magnificent diving stop from Leon.

After the ensuing corner kick, Franklin Pierce countered and found Demoner on a breakaway until she was taken down by senior D Kathleen Strazzere (Wilmington, MA). On the free kick, Demoner steered the winner inside the left post.

“It is hard to take that their goals came down to two set plays,” Monteiro said.

Franklin Pierce outshot the River Hawks, 15-8 overall and 7-4 on target. Gillis had five saves while Leon stopped three shots.

UMass Lowell is expected to receive its fourth bid to NCAA Tournament in five years on Monday night. The Division II Selection Show is slated for 7:00 on www.ncaa.com.