RINDGE, N.H. – Top-seeded Franklin Pierce, ranked sixth in this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II women’s soccer poll, captured its 11th New England regional title with a 3-1 victory over second-seeded and No. 15-ranked College of Saint Rose in second round action of the 2006 NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Championships at Sodexho Field this afternoon.

Franklin Pierce (18-2-1) advances to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament and will travel to No. 2 West Chester (Pa.) University (22-0) next Saturday (Time TBA). West Chester captured its second-straight Northeast Regional crown with a 4-1 victory over No. 16 Indiana University of Pennsylvania this afternoon. Saturday will mark a rematch of last year’s national quarterfinal, which the Ravens won 2-1 at Sodexho Field to earn their 13th Final Four berth over the last 14 years. Saint Rose, the Northeast-10 Conference regular season champions, sees its season come to a close at 17-3-1.

Junior midfielder Gabriela Demoner (Curitiba, Brazil), who did not play in Franklin Pierce’s 4-0 loss at Saint Rose back on August 31, played a role in all three Raven markers this afternoon with a goal and two assists. Junior goalkeeper Jenna Mello (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) preserved the win with two saves.

Franklin Pierce appeared to end the drama of the match early, scoring a pair of goals in the opening 10:14 of the match. Demoner connected with freshman Mackenzie Bulych (Regina, Saskatchewan/Dr. Martin LeBoldus) with a pass from the right side. Bulych turned and fired a shot from the top center of the 18 that caromed off the crossbar, but bounced off the back of Saint Rose junior goalkeeper Lauren Steinberg (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) and into the goal 8:16 into the match.

“I was great to get a goal early and take a lead on them,” said Bulych. “It was a relief.”

The Ravens were then awarded a penalty kick when Demoner was tripped by a Saint Rose defender while cutting across the penalty area. She calmly slotted the penalty into the right side of the net at 10:14.

“It was a great start for us,” said Franklin Pierce Head Coach Jeff Bailey. “The first 20 minutes was excellent with two early goals and then for some reason we fell apart and let them right back in it.”

Saint Rose regained its composure and got back in the match when freshman Jordan Bowers (Colorado Springs, Colo./Doherty) poked a loose ball into the left side of the net when Mello couldn’t corral a free kick from the left side at 25:29.

The Golden Knights nearly equalized in the 39th minute when junior Alyssa Walbrecht (Norwich, N.Y./Unadilla Valley) hit the cross bar with a drive from 25-yards out. The rebound dropped in front of classmate Lindsay Bove (Holliston, Mass./Holliston), but Mello charged off her line to smother the shot.

While Saint Rose controlled play over the last 20-minutes of the first half, Franklin Pierce enjoyed the run of play after halftime. Freshman Shona Franklin (Leicester, England) entered the match in the 50th minute and almost immediately made an impact. She broke in one-on-one with Steinberg, but the Saint Rose keeper charged off her line well to make the save.

“The second half we had to keep fighting,” said Bailey. “We had the opportunity there to put it away again, but left them in the game and it’s always difficult.”

Mello was well positioned for a catch save on a Deanna Wachtel (Altamont, N.Y./Guilderland) header off a free kick in the 65th minute, which proved to be the Golden Knights best chance the rest of the way. The Ravens iced the match with an important insurance goal in the 72nd minute when senior back Alex Scavo (Toronto, Ontario/Brother Andre) headed in a Demoner corner kick from the top of the six and into the left side of the goal.

Steinberg finished with two saves for Saint Rose, who were out-shot 8-7 (5-2 in the second half).

Franklin Pierce, appearing the the NCAA Tournament for a record 15th-straight year will be gunning for their 14th Final Four appearance next weekend. The Ravens are now 38-0-2 all-time at home in postseason play, including a 23-0-1 mark in the NCAA Tournament.

“It’s definitely a positive for us,” said Scavo on playing at home. “We have the confidence to go through, so I think it’s a big advantage.