James header with 20-seconds to play provides heartbreak for Ravens

RINDGE, N.H. (November 4, 2006) - Second-seeded Southern Connecticut State University, ranked No. 13 in this week's NSCAA/adidas Division II poll, scored with 20-seconds remaining in regulation to defeat top-seeded and fourth-ranked Franklin Pierce, 2-1, and capture the New England Regional title in second round action of the 2006 NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship at Sodexho Field tonight.

Southern Connecticut (17-2-3), winners of a Division II record six National Championships, advances to the quarterfinal round where it awaits the winner of tomorrow's Northeast Regional final between third-seeded Lock Haven University and top-seeded and No. 1-ranked Dowling College.

"It's a difficult match in that Franklin Pierce played very, very well on the evening and limited the number of opportunities that we had," said Southern Connecticut Head Coach Tom Lang. "They are an outstanding team and we knew coming in that it would be a difficult game. At the end of the day my team battles and competes, we found a way and were able to capitalize on the few chances we had and we are obviously happy about that."

Franklin Pierce (17-2-3), winners of the Northeast-10 Conference regular season and tournament championships, sees its season come to a heartbreaking end.

Franklin Pierce enjoyed the run of play and possession for much of the match, finishing with a 10-5 advantage in shots (6-3 second half), but Southern Connecticut junior back Jason James (Hamilton, N.J./St. John's Secondary) broke the Ravens hearts when he headed in a free kick from freshman Michael DiBartolomeo (Wallingford, Conn./Lyman Hall) at the near post with just 20-seconds to play in regulation.            

"We were under pressure for almost the whole game," said James. "It was our last chance so I made a run from the back and tried to get to the near post and just timed it well."

"I thought possession-wise we did well," said Franklin Pierce head coach Marco Koolman. "But at the end of the day it's a restart that's the difference."

The Ravens tried to make a final push, but SCSU junior goalkeeper Brendan Lawless (Orleans, Mass./Nauset Regional) came off his line to intercept a long pass in the dying seconds and send the Owls through to the quarters. Lawless finished with three saves (two second half) to preserve the victory.

Southern jumped ahead when sophomore Colin Jackson (Hartford, Conn./Wolmer's Boy's) released himself on a counter-attack in midfield and after a long carry blasted a shot past Franklin Pierce junior All-America goalkeeper James Thorpe (East Longmeadow, Mass./Bridgton Academy) into the upper right corner at 18:08.

Franklin Pierce equalized 4:47 into the second half as senior back Andre Elphic (St. Catherines, Jamaica/Springfield Gardens (N.Y.)) found sophomore Raphael Guimaraes (Marlborough, Mass./Ashland) with a long pass from the back. Guimaraes collected the ball, slipped past one defender and then deked Lawless before slipping a shot into an open net from 12-yards out.

The winner came moments after Franklin Pierce sophomore Frantz Francois (Saint-Marc, Haiti/Palm Beach Lakes (Fla.)) saw a low angle shot from the right side go just over the cross bar in the 85^th minute. Francois also forced Lawless to parry a bid around the left post from just inside the 18 12:58 into the match.

"This team has performed so well all season," said Koolman. "To lose this game probably comes close, if not worse than losing in the national championship game last year. This group has so much character and believing in what we build on, but we just didn't finish the job."

MATCH STATISTICS & PLAY-BY-PLAY

2006 NCAA Division II Tournament
New England Regional
All-Tournament Team

Dan Costello, Midfielder, Dominican College
David McGuire, Midfielder, Southern New Hampshire University
Raphael Guimaraes, Midfielder, Franklin Pierce
David Clifton, Forward, Franklin Pierce
Andre Elphic, Back, Franklin Pierce
Peter Petropanagos, Midfielder, Franklin Pierce
Ancil Farrier, Back, Southern Connecticut State
Colin Jackson, Forward, Southern Connecticut State
Sean O'Brien, Back, Southern Connecticut State

Most Outstanding Defensive Player:
Jason James, Southern Connecticut State

Most Outstanding Offensive Player:
Michael DiBartolomeo, Southern Connecticut State