Ravens host Molloy on Sunday

Box Score
Bentley vs. Molloy Recap

RINDGE, N.H. (September 4, 2009) – The Franklin Pierce University men’s soccer team battled through regulation and two overtime periods with neither team finding the net on Friday evening, as they played Bridgeport to a scoreless draw in non-conference action at the Franklin Pierce Labor Day Classic at Sodexo Field.

The two teams combined for 17 fouls in a scrappy, but scoreless first half, which saw Franklin Pierce come away with a 9-3 shots advantage. Neither side managed to generate much in the way of scoring chances, as the teams combined for just three shots on target over the opening 45 minutes.

Perhaps the first good scoring chance of the game came in the 70th minute when Bridgeport was awarded a free kick near the top of the penalty area. Sophomore forward Patric Brundin struck the ball and bent it toward the cage, but the shot whistled just wide outside the upper-left corner. Less than 10 minutes later, Franklin Pierce had an opportunity to break the ice as sophomore midfielder Victor Goncalves (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) found himself with the ball on his feet and a two-on-one in the penalty area. He laid the ball off to senior forward Sean Ahern (Somers, Conn.), who was stuffed by Bridgeport junior goalkeeper Milos Suljagic, who came off his line to cut down the angle.

The two teams traded quality scoring chances with around 10 minutes to play in regulation. In the 79th minute, Franklin Pierce sophomore midfielder Diego Tabares (Seekonk, Mass.) uncorked a shot from the top of the penalty area that was turned aside by Suljagic. At the other end in the 81st minute, Bridgeport senior forward Gilbert Bayonne had a similar opportunity, but was denied by Raven sophomore goalkeeper Alexander Pilitsis (Brunswick, Maine) to keep the game scoreless and force overtime.

Pilitsis stopped all four shots he faced to post his second clean sheet in three games and earn the draw (1-1-1) in net for Franklin Pierce. Suljagic saved all five shots sent his way to notch his second shutout of the year as well and tally the draw (1-0-1) between the pipes for Bridgeport.

Franklin Pierce enjoyed an 18-17 shots advantage in the game and got five shots on target to four for Bridgeport. The Ravens attempted eight corner kicks to Bridgeport’s five.

The Ravens return to the pitch on Sunday, Sept. 6, when they host the second day of the Franklin Pierce Labor Day Classic. Bridgeport and Bentley will square off at 4 p.m. before Franklin Pierce hosts Molloy at 7 p.m. at Sodexo Field.