Florida Tech upsets Franklin Pierce women

Ravens tie game with 59 seconds left in regulation; lose in 96th minute

September 13, 2008

Melboure, Fla. -- Florida Institute of Technology scored 5:28 into overtime Friday to claim a 3-2 victory over Franklin Pierce University, ranked No. 4 in this week’s NSCAA/adidas Division II poll, in non-conference women’s soccer action at Rick Stottler Field.

Freshman Paula Lillsjö (Helsingborg, Sweden) scored the winning goal with a hard shot from 25 yards out on the right side to lift Florida Tech to victory. Sophomores Amanda Hjalmarsson (Hoganas, Sweden) and Alyssa Esposito (Melbourne, Fla./Melbourne) also scored goals for the Panthers.

Junior All-American Gabriela Demoner (Curitiba, Brazil) assisted on both Franklin Pierce goals, the second scored by sophomore All-American Angelika Johansson (Falkenburg, Sweden) with just 59 seconds to play to force overtime. Junior Mackenzie Bulych (Regina, Saskatchewan/Dr. Martin LeBoldus) also netted a goal for the Ravens (2-1-1, 1-0-1 NE-10).

Junior keeper Melissa Pyles (Daytona Beach, Fla./Spruce Creek) made one save for Florida Tech, while senior Brittany Ester (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) posted a career-best nine saves in goal for Franklin Pierce. Florida Tech out-shot the Ravens by a 14-4 margin, including a 12-3 advantage in shots on target.

Franklin Pierce took an early lead as Bulych took a pass from Demoner and fired a shot from the top of the 18 that hit the right post and caromed into the goal 18:52 into the match. Florida Tech equalized just 3:03 before halftime when Hjalmarsson scored off a feed from sophomore DeeDee Newland (Satellite Beach, Fla./Satellite).

The Panthers took a lead in the 66th minute on an unassisted tally from Esposito. Johansson forced overtime for the Ravens when she scored with a floating shot off a pass from Demoner.