Official Athletic Site of the Adelphi University Panthers
Women's Soccer
Adelphi To Play Franklin Pierce in NCAA Division II Quarterfinals

#4 Adelphi will take on #7 Franklin Pierce November 23rd at 1 pm in Rindge, N.H.

 
 

 
Adelphi is trying to get back to the Final Four for the first time since 1992.
  

Nov. 19, 2003

Garden City, N.Y. - The Adelphi women's soccer team topped West Chester University in the Northeast Regional final 4-1 to earn the right to advance to the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals. The Panthers will face Franklin Pierce College, who defeated the College of St. Rose, 4-1, in the New England Regional Final. Franklin Pierce will host the quarterfinal match-up November 23 at 1 pm.

Adelphi is currently ranked #4 nationally by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). The Panthers are led by junior Josephine Coiro (West Babylon, N.Y.) who leads Adelphi with 43 points (19G, 5A). Luciana Pace (Bellmore, N.Y.) and Marissa Cotilletta (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) are second and third with 30 points (12G, 6A) and 23 (10G, 3A) points respectively. Andrea Fasano (Syosset, N.Y.) has been solid in goal all year for the Panthers, making 20 starts and collecting 68 saves to go along a goals against average of 0.26, which ranks her second nationally.

As a team the Panthers are 18-1-1 on the season and are riding an 18 game winning streak. Adelphi is ranked first nationally in goals against average (0.25) and second in shutouts with a total of 14. The Panthers are trying to earn their first trip to the Final four in 11 years. The last time the Panthers went to the final four was in 1992, Adelphi made it to the championship game that year but fell to Barry University 3-2.

Franklin Pierce is currently ranked #7 nationally by the NSCAA and are led by sophomore Laura Hislop (Belfast, Northern Ireland). Hislop has collected 27 goals and leads the NCAA in assists per game with 22 assists in 22 games for a total of 76 points. Meghan Welcome (Haverhill, Mass.) and Sonya Hughes (Balbriggan, Ireland) round out the top three scorers for Franklin Pierce, Welcome has 61 points on the season (26G, 9A) and Hughes has collected 30 points (6G, 18A). Aase Kibsgaard (Korgen, Norway) has started 19 games in goal for the Ravens. Kibsgaard has recorded 54 saves on the season and has a goals against average of 0.76.

As a team the Ravens are 20-2 overall and riding a 12 game winning streak. Franklin Pierce is sixth nationally in scoring offense (3.83 goals per game) and eleventh in goals against average (0.61). This is Franklin Pierce's 12th consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament and the Ravens are looking for a 12th consecutive trip to the NCAA Final Four and a sixth NCAA championship. Franklin Pierce have never lost a home playoff game (20-0) and are 16-0 at home in NCAA tournament play.

The last time that Franklin Pierce and Adelphi met was last year in the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament. Franklin Pierce escaped with a 2-1 victory to advance to the Final Four. That game was played at Adelphi. Franklin Pierce leads the all-time series with Adelphi 2-0.