RINDGE, N.H. – The LIU Post women's soccer team made a name for itself when it took down No. 1 seed Franklin Pierce University during the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament, 3-1 at Sodexo Field on Sunday, Nov. 11.
The Pioneers put together one of its best performances of the season to take down the seventh-ranked team in the country to keep its season alive. The Green and Gold found the target with all seven shot attempts on the day, holding a 7-2 edge in shots on goal. It took just two attempts to find the back of the net during the opening 45 minutes to help LIU Post set the tone early. Senior goalkeeper Hillevi Eklowneeded just one first-half save to earn the win between the pipes.
After 110 scoreless minutes during the opening round matchup against Southern New Hampshire University, it took just over 16 minutes for freshman Terese Markelund to find the back of the net against the Ravens. Markelund collected a failed clear attempt by Franklin Pierce's back line and buried a shot from 25 yards out for the game's opening strike. During the 34th minute, LIU Post doubled its advantage when sophomore Erin O'Connor avoided defenders and carried the ball into the right side of the penalty area before finding junior Julia Duffy inside the six-yard box for Duffy's 13th goal of the season. The lead did not remain at two goals for long though as Franklin Pierce countered just 58 seconds later when Marta Turmo sent a ball down the left flank to Nathalia da Silva who rocketed her own shot from distance to make it 2-1 before halftime.
The Pioneer offense looked to put the game away early in the second half. O'Connor sent a ball across the penalty area that drifted on goal, forcing Raven goalkeeper Casey Kane to make a difficult play on the ball to keep it a one-goal game. Two minutes later, the offense capitalized again, as sophomore Sydney Pasquarellaset up Duffy at the top of the box for her second goal of the day as her shot found the top left corner of the frame to give the Green and Gold a 3-1 lead.
Franklin Pierce looked to counter quickly again when Bruna Tavares found da Silva at the top of the six-yard box, though da Silva could not finish as her shot attempt sailed high and over the crossbar. LIU Post nearly found the back of the net one more time as O'Connor and Duffy both had opportunities during the 74th and 77th minutes, but Kane added two more saves. The defense held off the Ravens the rest of the way to help the Pioneers reach the third round of the national championship for the second-consecutive season.
With the win, LIU Post will prepare for a rematch of the East Coast Conference championship when they travel to No. 2 seed University of Bridgeport on Friday, Nov. 16 at Knights Field
Provided by the LIU Post Sports Information Department.
