RINDGE, N.H. (October 15, 2016) – Freshman Niklas Laudahn (Olfen, Germany) picked a perfect time to record his second goal of the season as the Franklin Pierce University men's soccer team defeated the no. 19 nationally-ranked Merrimack College Warriors 1-0 in a Northeast-10 Conference battle at Sodexo Field on Saturday Night.

With the victory, the Crimson and Grey move to 8-2, 6-3 NE-10 and the loss drops the Warriors to 10-3, 7-2 NE-10.

The win moves the Ravens from fifth to a tie for third in the NE-10 standings with Le Moyne as both squads are 6-3 in league play and have accumulated 18 points. Franklin Pierce has yet to play the Dolphins and will host them on Tuesday, October 25th for a 4:00 p.m. senior day contest that could have huge postseason seeding implications.

This season, the Raven men are 2-0 at home on Sodexo Field against nationally-ranked opponents. Back on September 28th, FPU bested the previously no. 2 nationally-ranked SNHU Penmen 1-0 on Marius Preber's (Jessheim, Norway) 88th minute tally.

Laudahn matched Preber's dramatics as the freshman defender headed home a Jacob Blixt (Borrby, Sweden) free-kick from 40 yards out in the 85th minute.

Merrimack held the advantage in shots 19-6 and corner kicks 8-5 in a physical affair that saw a total 20 fouls called and five second half yellow cards.

Freshman goalkeeper Jadel Poon-Lewis (Diego Martin, Trinidad and Tobago) recorded his third shutout of the season as he stopped four shots and improved to 8-3 on the campaign. Tyler Packett made one save in the loss and took only his second setback of the year.

The Ravens return to the pitch on Wednesday when they host NE-10 opponent Bentley at 7:00 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 athletic apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).