RINDGE, N.H. – Jenni Huttenen scored a pair of goals to lift Franklin Pierce (19-3-2) to a 2-1 win over Shepherd (18-2-4) in quarterfinal action of the  NCAA II Women's Soccer Tournament at Sodexho Field on Saturday afternoon.

Franklin Pierce took a 1-0 lead when Huttenen scored on an assist from Olivia Crespo at the 55:26 mark.

The Raven took a 2-0 lead on a penalty kick by Huttenen at the 75:21 mark.

Shepherd scored on a goal by junior midfielder Josie Beezel (Woodsboro, Md./Linganore) off assists from junior forward Lydia Gable (Felton, Pa./Kennard Dale) and sophomore midfielder Reagan Ackermann (Myersville, Md./Middletown/UNC Wilmington) at the 81:42 mark.

The Ravens held on for the one-goal victory.

"We played fantastically today, I think by all accounts we were the better team," said Shepherd head coach Sam Odell. "We dominated chances, territory, hit the bar twice, and had a couple cleared off the line, but it wasn't our day.

"I couldn't be prouder of the team and their accomplishments this season. This is not the way we wanted the story to end, and its especially tough for it to be in this manner – sometimes you just wish that you were second best as it can be easier to accept when that happened, but that was not the case today.

"We had a really good chance of winning the national championship this year and are devastated to be going out in the Elite Eight. That speaks volumes for the team's goals and standards this season. This year we won all three trophies available, won 18 games, and have become a force on the Division II stage.

"We will be back here next year, and knowing this amazing group as well as anyone, they will use this experience as fuel to win the national championship next year. I am a proud and disappointed coach at the same time today, but I love this team and couldn't be prouder of them for how they played today and all season. We have an amazing group that has a special collective quality which is so powerful when they channel it. We will be back."

Sophomore goalkeeper Hannah Wilt (Saint Leonard, Md./Calvert) recorded a pair of saves for the Rams. Emilie Fox recorded three saves for Franklin Pierce.

Shepherd had a 16-8 advantage in shots with Franklin Pierce holding a 5-4 edge in shots on goal. The Ravens had a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks.

Franklin Pierce advances to the Final Four in Matthews, North Carolina on Dec.13.