Friday, December 03, 1999
NKU ousted in NCAA soccer Final Four
BY JOHN P. WISE
Enquirer contributor
MIAMI SHORES, Fla. — Top-ranked Franklin Pierce, winner of four straight Division II women's soccer national titles from 1994-97, defeated Northern Kentucky 2-0 Thursday in a national semifinal at Barry University. .
The loss left the Norse disappointed but not discouraged. Fifteen of 17 players should return for the seventh-ranked Norse, who finished 22-3.
“While we're disappointed to lose, we got a good experience just by playing in the Final Four,” said coach Bob Sheehan, who has turned a club team into an NCAA contender in just three years.
Said sophomore forward Betsy Moore, who led NKU with 21 goals this year: “Hopefully, everyone comes back and works even harder next year.”
But for two seniors, optimism was felt only about what was, rather than what will be. Lisa Geiman and Lindsay Smith played their last games for the Norse.
“We knew we had a strong team,” Geiman said. “People didn't think we'd get this far, but we thought we could be here.”
On Thursday, Franklin Pierce (19-1) produced goals in each half and advanced to Saturday's title game against Cal-Poly Pomona (18-5). Brenda van Stralen lofted a shot from about 25 yards out that beat NKU goalie Lauren Piening to the upper left corner in the 35th minute.
The clincher came in the 70th minute. Angela Verdoes' cross came straight to the right foot of Tanja Pihlbald, who snuck it past Piening.
NKU impressed Franklin Pierce coach Jeff Bailey.
“(NKU) gave us everything they had,” he said. “They played very well.”
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