The NCAA News - News and Features

November 10, 1997

Division II Women's Soccer

Unbeaten Ravens aim for final

Event: 1997 Division II Women's Soccer Championship.

Overview: Franklin Pierce has won three straight titles with an explosive offense and stingy defense. After setting or tying 11 scoring records during the 1995 tournament, the Ravens won a defensive struggle against Lynn in the 1996 championship bout. Those two teams may meet again in this year's final if the regular season is any indication. Franklin Pierce is top-ranked and a perfect 16-0. The Ravens have lost just once in the last four years. All-American Pauliina Miettinen is having another remarkable year with 25 goals and 10 assists. She's even stepped in to play goalkeeper while regular starter Marisa Giannone mends from an injury. Pauliina Auveri also has contributed 20 goals and 10 assists to an attack that has outscored opponents, 80-10 .... Lynn features freshman forward Jannie Nicolaisen, with 25 goals and 10 assists. Nicolaisen redshirted last year after sustaining a knee injury during last year's preseason and has returned to lead Lynn to victories over Regis (Colorado), Catawba, Presbyterian and West Florida. Junior sweeper Adele Talamo heads a formidable Lynn defense .... The scoring tandem of Bernadette Kennedy and Laura Martin has put unbeaten Adelphi ranked among the nation's elite. The duo has scored 15 goals apiece and dished out 21 assists between them. Goalkeeper Kara Gazzano has recorded all 15 wins, including eight shutouts and victories over ranked opponents West Virginia Wesleyan and Bloomsburg .... Other contenders include West Virginia Wesleyan, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Barry, Francis Marion and New Hampshire College.

Field: Sixteen teams from eight regions will be selected November 10. Each of the eight regions will receive two berths.

Dates and sites: All games will be played on the campuses of competing institutions. First-round games will be played November 15 or 16. Quarterfinal games will be played November 22 or 23. The semifinals and final will be December 5 and 7.

Results: The fax-on-demand telephone number is 770/399-3060 (passcode 1915); request numbers are 1455 for bracket/schedule, 5151 for semifinal results and 5152 for championship game results. Results also will be available on the World Wide Web at www.ncaa.org. Championship results will appear in the December 15 issue of The NCAA News.