#4 Franklin Pierce Edges #12 Southern Connecticut, 2-1
Ravens clinch top-seed in upcoming NE-10 Tournament, share of second-straight regular season title
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (October 17, 2006) - Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 4 in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, clinched at least a share of its second-straight Northeast-10 Conference regular season title with a 2-1 victory at No. 12 Southern Connecticut State University in men's soccer action at Jess Dow Field tonight.
With the win, Franklin Pierce (14-1-1, 10-1-1 NE-10) clinches the top-seed for the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament, which gets underway with quarterfinal round action on Tuesday, October 24. The Ravens also clinch at least a share of the NE-10 regular season crown and needs just a draw in Saturday's regular season finale against The College of Saint Rose (7 p.m.) to claim its second-straight title outright.
Junior co-captain Michel Vitulano (Montreal, Quebec/College de Maisonneuve) played a role in both Franklin Pierce goals, netting the match-winner in the 81st minute. Junior All-America goalkeeper James Thorpe (East Longmeadow, Mass./Bridgton Academy) returned to the starting lineup after a two-match absence and made three saves (all second half) to preserve the victory.
The Ravens opened the scoring when senior back Bisharra Ettienne (Rosedale, N.Y./Dominica State College) knocked in a rebound off a Vitulano free kick with his left foot at 24:39. Southern Connecticut took just 19-seconds to equalize when Ancil Farrier (Los Bajos, Trinidad) converted a penalty kick after Ettienne committed a foul inside the penalty area at 24:58.
The goal was the first of the year (sixth overall) allowed by Franklin Pierce in five matches against ranked opponents. The Ravens improved to 4-0-1 against nationally-ranked teams this season with the win. It also marks the first time this season Franklin Pierce has conceded goals in back-to-back matches.
Vitulano put Franklin Pierce ahead for good when sophomore Marek Hawryik (Olsztyn, Poland/The Winchendon (Mass.) School) laid a ball back from inside the 18, and Vitulano slotted the shot past Southern keeper Brendan Lawless (Orleans, Mass.), who was caught off his line slightly. Lawless finished with no saves on the night as SCSU posted an 8-4 advantage in shots, including 6-2 on target (5-1 second half).
The goal came moments after the Owls best chance to take a lead of their own in the 77th minute. Thorpe made a sliding stop on a point-blank shot by Colin Jackson (Hartford, Conn.), but the rebound went to Kieron Jennings (Daganhan, England) who forced a Franklin Pierce defender to clear the ball off the line.
Southern Connecticut (12-2-2, 9-2-1 NE-10) hosts No. 22 Merrimack College on Saturday at 7 p.m.