Amazing 2010 season comes to an end

BOXSCORE

RINDGE, N.H. (November 20, 2010) -- The No. 1-nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University men's soccer team's amazing 2010 season came to a tough end on Saturday night in the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals as the Ravens dropped a 1-0 decision to Dowling at Sodexo Field in Rindge. Franklin Pierce concluded its season with a 17-2-2 record, while Dowling improved to 12-1-6 and advanced to the Final Four in Louisville, Ky. on Dec. 2.

The loss also snapped Franklin Pierce's 17-match unbeaten streak (15-0-2), which began following a similar 1-0 setback at Dowling back on Sept. 7 in Brookhaven, N.Y.

Despite the loss, the 2010 season will be remembered as one of the better campaigns in program history. The Ravens jumped to No. 1 in the national polls for the first time since the 2007 season, while also winning the Northeast-10 Conference regular season and tournament championships. Saturday's appearance in the the quarterfinals was also the program's first trip to the round since 2007.

Franklin Pierce out-shot Dowling, 12-11, but could not find the back of the net. Both teams also put six shots on goal each. The Golden Lions were able to notch the only goal of the match in the 75th minute when Jorge Ruiz tracked down a loose ball from approximately 30 yards out and lofted a shot over Franklin Pierce goalkeeper Vinny Papageorgiou (Wilmington, Mass.), who came charging out of the goal to try and swat away the loose ball.

The Ravens tried to tie it up and came close with a little more than three minutes remaining when graduate forward Shaun Taylor (Isle of White, England) seemed to head in an attempt off a corner kick from junior midfielder Paul Latif (Newcastle, England). However, the officials called a foul on the play, nullifying the goal. Franklin Pierce had one more solid opportunity in the closing minutes but a header attempt from sophomore midfielder Amory Houghton (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) was knocked away by Dowling goalkeeper Chris Kucera.

Kucera made six saves to earn the win and run his record to 12-1-6 on the season. Papageorgiou played well despite the allowed goal as he made five saves. He concluded his season with an impressive 17-2-2 record.

For more information on Franklin Pierce men's soccer, please visit the team's page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.) To follow the program even further, please visit Franklin Pierce Athletics on YouTube (www.youtube.com/FranklinPierceSports), Twitter (www.twitter.com/FPUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceAthletics).