FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
It'll be an all-New Hampshire showdown in the 2017 Northeast-10 Conference Women's Soccer Championship as second-seeded Southern New Hampshire and fourth-seeded Franklin Pierce won semifinal games tonight. Here's how the two contests played out -
#2 So. New Hampshire 1, #6 Assumption 1, SNHU advances on PK's 5-4
MANCHESTER, N.H. - Senior Trisha Luis buried the game-tying goal with less than nine minutes to play in regulation, and was one of five Penmen to score in penalty kicks, as Southern New Hampshire prevailed over Assumption in penalties, 5-4, to advance to the NE10 Championship final.
The second-seeded Penmen, who advance to the program's second NE10 final and first since 2012, will host fourth-seeded Franklin Pierce at Larkin Field on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Ravens ousted No. 8 Merrimack Friday, 2-1.
So. New Hampshire dominated possession and carried the majority of play through the first half, but it was the Greyhounds who jumped ahead with less than 10 minutes to play before the intermission. After Assumption earned its first corner kick of the contest, Victoria Stowell sent a low line drive kick to the near post. Senior Paige Salmon punched the ball away, but a failed Penmen clearing attempt left the ball on the feet of Ania Spina just inside the top of the box, where she took two touches before sending a left-footed shot to the far post.
After neither side was able to solve the opposition's keeper through the final 8:29 of regulation and a pair of 10-minute overtime periods, the two teams lined up for a shootout. Luis, freshman Allyson Patterson, Shae Roys, junior Danielle Humphreys and classmate Miranda Peloquin all converted their attempts, and Assumption matched the Penmen through its first four shooters. The final shot, however, sailed over the crossbar and sent the Penmen into the final.
#4 Franklin Pierce 2, #8 Merrimack 1
RINDGE, N.H. – For the first time since 2010, Franklin Pierce will play for the Northeast-10 Conference title. A second-half penalty kick by junior midfielder Nathalia Maria da Silva stood as the difference, as the fourth-seeded Ravens notched a 2-1 win over eighth-seeded Merrimack in the semifinal round of the NE10 Championship at Sodexo Field.
With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 12-3-2 and advances to the title game, while Merrimack concludes its season at 10-9-0. Franklin Pierce will travel to second-seeded SNHU for the final at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Larkin Field in Manchester, N.H.
The Ravens would break through just minutes later, in the 53rd minute. After taking the ball in the right side of the penalty area, Veronica Marques turned with the ball and cut to the middle of the box, shedding her defender in the process. Marques promptly put the ball inside the left post for her sixth goal of the season.
Franklin Pierce tacked on what proved to be an important insurance marker in the 80th minute, when Tavares was tripped up in the box while trying to put away a rebound near the top of the six-yard box. Nathalia Maria da Silva took the ensuing penalty kick, which she elevated towards the left side of the net. Merrimack sophomore goalkeeper Erin Fulton got her hands to the ball, but could not keep it out, as da Silva's team-leading seventh goal of the year made it a 2-0 game.
Merrimack got on the board in the 87th minute to cut the deficit in half. With everybody pushed up, senior back Emily Maier took a free kick about 35 yards from goal on the left side of the midfield. As it turned out, Maier did not require the help of those pushed forward, as she put a direct shot inside the right post for her first goal of the year.
The Warriors continued their attempts to ramp up the pressure after the goal, but there was not enough time left to mount an effective attack. The final 3:10 went without further scoring, and the Ravens came away with the 2-1 victory.
2017 NE10 Women's Soccer Championship Schedule
Tuesday, October 31
Quarterfinals
Match 1: #8 Merrimack 2, #1 Adelphi 1
Match 2: #2 Southern New Hampshire 2, #7 Bentley 0
Match 3: #6 Assumption 3, #3 Saint Rose 0
Match 4: #4 Franklin Pierce 1, #5 Pace 0
Friday, November 3
Semifinals
Match 5: #4 Franklin Pierce 2, #8 Merrimack 1
Match 6: #2 SNHU 1, #6 Assumption 1, SNHU advances 5-4 on penalty kicks
Sunday, November 5
Championship
Match 7: #4 Franklin Pierce at #2 Southern New Hampshire | 1:00pm
Additional information for this release provided by the athletic communications staffs at Franklin Pierce, and Southern New Hampshire
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 15 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.