NCAA TOURNAMENT #4 Franklin Pierce Slips Past Southern N.H., 1-0
Clifton's marker less than five minutes from halftime the difference
RINDGE, N.H. (November 2, 2006) - Top-seeded Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 4 in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, scored late in the first half made it stand to claim a 1-0 victory over fourth-seeded Southern New Hampshire University in opening round action of the 2006 NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championships at Sodexho Field tonight.
Franklin Pierce (17-1-3) advances to face second-seeded and No. 13-ranked Southern Connecticut State University (16-2-3) for the New England Regional Championship on Saturday at 7 p.m. Southern Connecticut advanced with a 2-1 decision over third-seeded and No. 22-ranked Dominican College (12-4-3) in today's first match. Southern New Hampshire, making its first NCAA appearance since 2002, closes its season at 9-7-5.
"It will be the third time playing (Southern Connecticut) in two weeks," said Franklin Pierce head coach Marco Koolman. "It was a cat and mouse type match last weekend (in the NE-10 Championship). We have to learn from some of the things that happened in that game and deal with them better. They have a good team and it will be a good test for us."
Franklin Pierce took advantage of an unfortunate bounce for Southern New Hampshire defender Matt Delaney (Wallasey, England) as freshman Matthijs Eppinga (Drachten, The Netherlands) collected the loose ball and found grad student David Clifton (London, England) with a cross from the left side. Clifton took two touches before firing a low shot into the left side of the goal past SNHU junior goalkeeper Dan Pelc (Hamilton, Ontario/St. Thomas More) with 4:55 remaining in the first half.
"The first half, I thought we played well and gave ourselves some opportunities," said Koolman. "The second half we put ourselves under pressure unnecessarily and allowed them to attack, but we were able to settle things down enough in the end."
The goal was Clifton's eighth of the season and marked the sixth-straight Franklin Pierce goal Eppinga has had a part in over the Ravens last four matches. Eppinga has totaled ten of his 12 points (3 goals, four assists) this season over Franklin Pierce's last five matches.
"As a freshman (Eppinga) has really come into his own of late," said Koolman. "He really understands the game and what we are trying to do. He has provided us with another target and when you play with that much possession having one target is good, but to have a second option makes us much more dangerous."
Junior All-America goalkeeper James Thorpe (East Longmeadow, Mass./Bridgton Academy) made one second half save to preserve the victory and his Northeast-10 Conference leading 12th shutout of the season (37th career). Pelc made three saves (all first half) for Southern New Hampshire, which was out-shot 9-2 for the match.
"We take pride in our defense and try to allow as few goals as possible," said senior back Andre Elphic (St. Catherines, Jamaica/Springfield Gardens (N.Y.)), who led a Ravens defense that held Southern New Hampshire without a shot over the opening 45-minutes and just two overall. "Last week we allowed two goals (in a 2-2 double-overtime draw with the Penmen in the NE-10 semifinals) and we knew tonight we had to step our game up and let that happen again."