Welcome nets gamewinner in 97th minute to lead Ravens into NCAA Quarterfinals

RINDGE, N.H. (November 10, 2001) - Freshman midfielder Meghan Welcome (Haverhill, Mass./Haverhill) netted the gamewinning goal with a 35-yard free-kick in the 97th minute to lift No. 1-ranked Franklin Pierce to a 2-1 overtime victory over No. 13 Merrimack College in the NCAA Division II Women's New England Regional Championship match in front of 1,514 at Crystal Field this afternoon.

The Ravens (21-0) advance to face No. 8 Lock Haven University in the NCAA Quarterfinal round next weekend. The host site will be announced on Monday, but should Franklin Pierce
be awarded the match, the game would be Saturday, November 17, at 1 p.m. Lock Haven (18-3) advanced with a 3-2 overtime victory over Slippery Rock University this afternoon.

Welcome's gamewinner came after a Merrimack foul near the left sideline. The left-footed Welcome lofted the ball towards the far post, but it found the upper righthand corner of the net just past the hand of Merrimack's senior goalkeeper Alison Skoglund (Haverhill, Mass./Haverhill).

"I was just trying to put it on the far post," said Welcome after the match. "When it went in I couldn't believe it. This is so sweet."

Merrimack sent the match into overtime in the 86th minute of play as senior Rachel McCarthy finished off a Warriors counterattack with a 25-yard shot over the head of Franklin Pierce goalkeeper Kim Higgins (Rochester, N.H./Spaulding) that rolled harmlessly into the net. Senior Melissa Edwards and freshman Laurie Lamoureux were credited with assists.

The goal marked just the second time this season Franklin Pierce has been tied after going ahead in a match. Saint Rose knotted its match with the Ravens at 1-1 in the 15th minute of their match on October 8 before falling 3-1. Franklin Pierce has still not trailed in a match this season.

The score also snapped Higgins shutout streak of just over 532 minutes dating back to a 2-1 win over Saint Michael's College on October 11.

The Ravens took the lead on a nifty goal from junior Patricia Keeldar (Amsterdam, Holland/Ter Leede) at the 15:24-mark. Freshman Martta Makila (Vantaa, Finland/Makelanrinne) set up the play in the corner as she worked past a defender and sent a cross into the box, where it was deflected by junior April Mann (Brisbane, Australia/Saint Thomas More) towards Keeldar, who headed the ball into the upper right corner of the net.

The 21st win matches Franklin Pierce's school record for wins in a season set in 1997 and also matched in 1998. The Ravens keep their quest of a sixth National Championship alive and look to advance to the NCAA semifinals for the tenth-straight season with a win next weekend.

Merrimack (19-4) falls to Franklin Pierce for the third time this season and is now 0-3 in NCAA Tournament play against the Ravens. Skoglund recorded three saves in net for the Warriors, while Higgins made two saves for Franklin Pierce.

Scoring Summary:
FP: Patricia Keeldar (April Mann, Martta Makila), 15:24; MC: Rachel McCarthy (Melissa Edwards, Laurie Lamoureux), 85:14; FP: Meghan Welcome (unassisted), 96:21.

Goalkeepers:
MC: Alison Skoglund (96:21), three saves. FP: Kim Higgins (96:21), two saves.

Shots:
MC: 5, FP: 13.