Joyce's 98th minute PK lifts Ravens to second-straight Regional title

RINDGE, N.H. (November 12, 2005) - Second-seeded Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 15 in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, out-lasted top-seeded and No. 7-ranked Dominican College, 1-0, in overtime in the NCAA Division II New England Region Championship tonight at Sodexho Field.            

All-America forward Christopher Joyce (Jarrow, England) converted a penalty kick with 2:29 remaining in the first overtime period to lift Franklin Pierce to its second-straight New England region title. The Ravens will host No. 12-ranked New York Institute of Technology in a quarterfinal round match next weekend. The Bears advanced past No. 3 Dowling, 5-4, in a penalty shootout after the two sides played to a 2-2 draw on Sunday afternoon. Date and time of the quarterfinal will be announced on Monday.

Joyce, who collected Most Outstanding Offensive Player honors for the second-straight year, drove his penalty kick into the lower right corner of the net past Dominican sophomore goalkeeper Robert Kelly (Kearny, N.J./Kearny). Joyce was awarded the penalty after he was pulled down while cutting across the penalty area by Dominican sophomore back Joe Ruesgan (Scotland).

"It was a hard fought match," said Joyce. "I'm proud of the way the Franklin Pierce boys played. It's a credit to them tonight."            

Franklin Pierce sophomore goalkeeper James Thorpe (East Longmeadow, Mass./Bridgton Academy) received Most Outstanding Defensive Player honors for the second-straight year as he made five saves, many from point-blank range, to preserve his tenth shutout of the season (24^th career). Thorpe, who posted shutouts in both NCAA Tournament victories, made three saves in the second half as the Chargers out-shot the Ravens, 8-3.

Franklin Pierce had the better of the action in the overtime. Senior Evan Luster (Newington, Conn./Newington) had an open look on a rebound off a corner kick blocked by a defender. The ball went to Joyce on the right side and he cut back across the penalty area where he drew the decisive foul.

Senior Kyle Clancy (Walden, N.Y./Pine Bush), named to the All-Tournament team, was the catalyst for Dominican all night, with several breaks in one-on-one with Thorpe. The Ravens goalkeeper came up with saves on Clancy in the 53^rd and 75^th minutes to keep the match scoreless. Clancy also had open looks on three other shots that missed either just wide or high of the target.

"I should have scored," said Clancy. "It's my fault today. I had open looks, but couldn't convert them. It's a tough way to go out like this."

Kelly finished with two saves for Dominican on the night as the Chargers finished with a 13-9 advantage in shots.

"Both teams played tough tonight," said Franklin Pierce Head Coach Marco Koolman. "It's an emotional thing when a match is decided on a penalty, but a foul is a foul. The referee was adamant about it and didn't hesitate in making the call. I even thought the initial reaction of (Dominican's) players on the field showed they realized what they had done."

NCAA DIVISION II MEN'S NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Most Outstanding Offensive Player:
Christopher Joyce, Franklin Pierce

Most Outstanding Defensive Player:
James Thorpe, Franklin Pierce

F - Marek Hawrylik (Olsztyn, Poland), Franklin Pierce
F - Kyle Clancy, Dominican
M - Ryan Clancy (Walden, N.Y./Pine Bush), Dominican
M - Jhonny Arteaga (Stamford, Conn./Westhill), Dominican
M - Jason Grier (Norwell, Mass./Norwell), Franklin Pierce
B - Bisharra Ettienne (Queens, N.Y./Dominica State College), Franklin Pierce
B - Andre Elphic (St. Catherines, Jamaica), Franklin Pierce
B - Tom Rolston (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South), Dominican
B - Joe Ruesgan, Dominican

MATCH STATISTICS