Ravens look to regroup at Saint Michael's Wednesday

RINDGE, N.H. (September 21, 2014) – Sophomore forward Dallas Donovan (South Yarmouth, Mass.) gave the Franklin Pierce University men's soccer team a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute on Sunday afternoon, but American International answered with goals in the 23rd and 29th minutes as the Yellow Jackets rallied for a 2-1 victory in Northeast-10 Conference play at Sodexo Field. Junior forward Ed Sharman factored on both goals with a goal and an assist for AIC.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 2-3-0 (0-2-0 Northeast-10), while American International improves to 4-2-0 (1-1-0 Northeast-10).

After the Ravens were shutout by No. 1 Southern New Hampshire, 3-0, on Wednesday night, Donovan put Franklin Pierce out in front early on Sunday, with his team-leading sixth goal of the campaign. In the aftermath of a 21st-minute corner kick, the ball wound up bouncing around as if a pinball, amid a scramble in the goalmouth. Donovan was the first man on the scene for the Ravens and drilled it to the center of the net to open the scoring.

Franklin Pierce was able to put together advantages of 26-7 in shot attempts, 15-4 in shots on goal and 13-5 in corner kicks on Sunday, but it was AIC which scored twice more in the first half to take a 2-1 lead it would never relinquish. In the 23rd minute, junior back Frazer Cronin sent the ball ahead from the midfield and found Sharman, who now had the ball and space to work with on the right side. Franklin Pierce senior goalkeeper Sam Meza (Whittier, Calif.) came off his line in an attempt to cut down the angle, but Sharman beat him with a long-range shot from 30 yards for his third goal of the year to even the game at 1-1.

Just over five minutes later, the Yellow Jackets struck for the eventual game-winning goal, which was the third score of the season for junior forward Alec Cerqueira. The initial shot from the left side was dealt with by the defense, but the rebound kicked to the left-wing side of the penalty area and left the Ravens outnumbered in front of their own goal. Sharman tracked down the ball and centered it to Cerqueira in the middle of the six-yard box. The latter pushed the cross into the yawning net to put AIC in front to stay.

The teams traded opportunities in the second half, but Franklin Pierce was unable to equalize and AIC was unable to pick up an insurance marker, as the game remained 2-1 through 90 minutes. Meza finished with two saves and took the loss (0-1-0) in net for Franklin Pierce, while AIC sophomore goalkeeper Sebastian Tamayo piled up 13 saves to pick up the win (4-2-0) between the pipes for the Yellow Jackets.

The Ravens return to the field on Wednesday, Sept. 24, when they travel to Saint Michael's for a Northeast-10 Conference contest. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. at Duffy Field in Colchester, Vt. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on Tuesday, Sept. 30 against Bentley at 7 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce men's soccer apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).