Ravens score three times in second half to pull out win

BOXSCORE

RINDGE, N.H. (October 17, 2009) – The Franklin Pierce University men’s soccer team scored all three of its goals in the second half to complete a 3-0 win over Stonehill on Saturday at Sodexo Field in Rindge, N.H. The Ravens ran their unbeaten streak to seven games (6-0-1) with the win and improved to 11-3-2 overall and 9-2-1 in the Northeast-10 Conference. Stonehill dipped to 7-6-1 and 3-6-1 in the league.

After a scoreless opening 45 minutes, the Ravens exploded for three tallies in the second half. Senior midfielder Frantz Francois (West Palm Beach, Fla.) got the scoring started for Franklin Pierce with a goal in the 53rd minute. Francois took a pass down the middle of the field from sophomore midfielder Victor Goncalves (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), dribbled into the box and faked the goalkeeper into making a diving attempt. However, Francois dribbled around the flailing player and slipped ball into the back of the net for the 1-0 Franklin Pierce lead. It was Francois’ team-leading 10th goal of the season and marked the third-straight game he has scored a marker.

Sophomore midfielder Diego Tabares (Seekonk, Mass.) made it 2-0 Franklin Pierce in the 71st minute with an unassisted goal. Tabares tracked down the ball at the top of the box and blasted a shot which glanced off the goalkeeper’s hands and into the top center of the goal.

Freshman midfielder Amory Houghton (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) capped the scoring for the Ravens with an impressive goal at the 89:34 mark, as he headed in a shot while laying on the ground in front of the net. It was the first collegiate goal of his career and it was assisted by senior forward Sean Ahern (Somers, Conn.).

Sophomore goalkeeper Vinny Papageorgiou (Wilmington, Mass.) made four saves in the contest to earn the shutout victory. It marked his second career shutout victory over Stonehill in as many attempts, as he also made four saves in Franklin Pierce’s 1-0 win over the Skyhawks last season.

The Ravens return to action next Saturday when they play host to Assumption at 2 p.m. at Sodexo Field. The game marks Senior Day as the team’s seniors will be honored prior to the contest. For more information on Franklin Pierce men’s soccer, please visit the team’s page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.)