Schneider's second-half goal the difference as Golden Lions win battle of last two NCAA II National Champions

Boxscore 

BROOKHAVEN, N.Y. (September 7, 2008) - Dowling College, ranked 9^th in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, got a goal just past the hour mark to claim a 1-0 victory over Franklin Pierce University, ranked 6^th in the NSCAA/adidas East Region rankings, in a battle between the last two NCAA Division II National Champions this afternoon at Golden Lions Field.

Junior Steven Schneider (Westbury, N.Y./Jericho) scored the lone goal of the match in the 62^nd minute from inside the six to break a scoreless deadlock and provide the difference for Dowling, who captured the Division II National Championship in 2006. Dowling posted a 9-7 advantage in shots for the match, but Franklin Pierce, the reigning National Champs, were unable to capitalize on a 5-4 edge in shots on target.

Senior goalkeeper Nemanja Veljovic (Belgrade, Serbia) made five saves to preserve his second shutout of the season for the Golden Lions. Sophomore Carl Contrascier (Hinkley, Ohio/Highland) made a career-best four stops for Franklin Pierce.

Dowling posted a 5-1 shots advantage in a scoreless first half - and after Schneider's goal, held a 7-2 edge. Franklin Pierce out shot the Golden Lions, 5-2, the rest of the way, but couldn't manage an equalizing goal. Junior Kensaku Tsuji (Tokushima, Japan) had two shots down the stretch, forcing a Veljovic save on one, while shots on target were also collected by freshman Viktor Gonçalves (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Sean Ahern (Somers, Conn./Somers) but could not get past the Dowling keeper.

Franklin Pierce (1-2-0, 0-0-0 NE-10) looks to get back on track on Tuesday when it hosts Le Moyne College in their Northeast-10 opener at 3:30 p.m. Dowling (2-1-0, 0-0-0 ECC) hosts Briarcliffe University on Wednesday at 3 p.m.