#14 Franklin Pierce Escapes Trap, Tops AIC 3-2
Ravens mount three-goal second half to erase 2-0 halftime deficit
MANCHESTER, N.H. (October 25, 2003) - Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 14 in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, picked itself up off the mat from a 2-0 halftime deficit with three second half goals for a 3-2 decision over American International College in Northeast-10 Conference men's soccer action at Southern New Hampshire University's Penman Field late this afternoon. The match was played at Southern New Hampshire due to unplayable field conditions at Franklin Pierce's Crystal Field.
Franklin Pierce was victimized by American International's offside trap defensive scheme to the tune of 23 offside whistles for the match, including an incredible 17 in the opening half alone, but settled down over the final 45-minutes to grind out the win and snap a two-match skein.
Freshman Jason Grier (Norwell, Mass./Norwell) came off the bench to net the first two goals of his collegiate career, including the match-winner in the 74th minute, to lead the Ravens.
Senior Rodney Perry (Lithonia, Ga./Georgia Perimiter) had a role in both AIC goals as he registered a goal and assist.
Franklin Pierce cut into its 2-0 halftime deficit in half in the 52nd minute when junior Mark Jansen (Enschede, The Netherlands) hit Grier with a cross from the left side which he settled and fired a shot into the lower right side of the net past the charging effort of AIC senior goalkeeper Peter Bisson (Manchester, N.H./Central).
Sophomore Lars Bakker (Enschede, The Netherlands) evened the match with an unassisted tally when he broke through the last line of Yellow Jacket defenders and slipped a shot past Bisson at the 72:22-mark.
Grier netted the winner exactly one minute later when senior Felix Brillant (Montreal, Quebec/College Francais) served him a ball over the top of the defense, beating the trap, which allowed Grier break in one-on-one with Bisson for a shot from the right side into the lower left corner of the net at 73:22.
After a first half which saw Franklin Pierce out-shot by a 5-2 margin, due in large part to the 17 offside whistles, the Ravens made the adjustment at halftime and enjoyed a 14-4 shots advantage in the second half.
AIC took advantage of the Ravens first half frustrations and staked out a 2-0 lead. The Yellow Jackets opened the scoring in the 27th minute when freshman Norbert Dusza (Holyoke, Mass./Holyoke) curled a shot just inside the far right post after Perry shuffled him a pass off junior Jean-Francois Mercier's (St. Hubert, Quebec/Essex CC) throw in on the left side.
Perry extended the Yellow Jackets lead just six minutes later when he took advantage of a Franklin Pierce defensive give-away and one-timed a shot off the side of his foot past Franklin Pierce senior goalkeeper Domenico Roma (Windsor, Ontario/Ste. Annes) at the 32:36 mark.
Bisson finished the match with six saves for AIC (all second half), while Roma stopped three shots to give the Ravens a chance for the comeback.
Franklin Pierce (10-5-1, 10-2 NE-10) rounds out its regular season with a key Conference match with regional implications on Wednesday when it hosts No. 23 Bentley College at 3 p.m. American International (5-9-2, 3-8-2 NE-10) visits Felician College on Tuesday at 6 p.m.