Takefusa nets hat trick, Gordon adds double and Ravens rally twice in win

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 26, 2002) - Franklin Pierce, ranked fifth in the New England region, rallied twice in the first half before breaking the match wide open for a regular season ending 6-2 victory over American International College in Northeast-10 Conference men's soccer action at AIC Park this afternoon.

Junior striker Bjorgolfor Takefusa (Reykjavik, Iceland) netted three goals and senior midfielder Richard Gordon (Glasgow, Scotland) totaled five points with two goals and an assist to lead Franklin Pierce. The Raven needed to erase a pair of one-goal deficits in the early going and it was Takefusa and Gordon who led the way.

AIC sophomore Carlos Steward opened the scoring in the ninth minute when he slotted a shot into the lower left corner of the net. Freshman Franklin Raboul and senior Cesar Juca were credited with assists on the play.

Gordon netted the first equalizer in the 14th minute when he converted a cross from junior Felix Brillant (Montreal, Quebec/College Francais) from 23-yards out into the upper corner of the goal.

The Yellow Jackets regained the lead in the 25th minute when Raboul stole a pass in the Ravens defense and one-timed a shot from 25-yards out.

Takefusa netted his first of three-straight goals, to put Franklin Pierce ahead for good, in the 35th minute on a free kick just outside the penalty area. He netted the game winner just three-minutes later when he pushed a rebound off a shot from Gordon that was deflected by AIC junior goalkeeper Peter Bisson (Manchester, N.H./Central) into the open net in the 38th minute.

Takefusa finished off the hat trick in the 66th minute as he headed in a cross from freshman Evan Luster (Newington, Conn./Newington) to put the Ravens up 4-2. Luster also set up Gordon's second marker of the match with a cross in the 70th minute.

A pair of Franklin Pierce freshmen rounded out the scoring for their first career points in the 88th minute asNoah Marchese (Edinboro, Pa./Cathedral Prep) sent a cross to Willie Hanlon (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) for a shot into the lower corner of the net.

Franklin Pierce junior goalkeeper Domenico Roma (Windsor, Ontario/Ste. Annes) posted eight saves to preserve the victory. Bisson did not register a save in the first half, before giving way to junior Peter Leacu who totaled seven second-half stops.

Franklin Pierce (9-4-4, 6-3-4 NE-10) will play a Northeast-10 Conference Quarterfinal match on the road on Tuesday or Wednesday. Official Conference Tournament brackets will be released on Monday afternoon. American International rounds out its 2002 season with a 4-12-1 record overall, 2-10-1 in Conference play.

Franklin Pierce 6, American International 2

Scoring Summary: AIC: Carlos Stewart (Franklin Raboul, Cesar Juca), 9th minute; FP: Richard Gordon (Felix Brillant), 14th; AIC: Raboul (unassisted), 25th; FP: Bjorgolfor Takefusa (unassisted), 35th; FP: Takefusa (Gordon), 38th; FP: Takefusa (Evan Luster), 66th; FP: Gordon (Luster), 70th; FP: Willie Hanlon (Noah Marchese), 88th.
Goalkeepers: FP: Domenico Roma (90:00), eight saves; AIC: Peter Bisson (45:00), no saves, Peter Leacu (45:00), seven saves.
Shots: FP: 20, AIC: 15.