By director of athletic communcations Luke Tracy 

MATTHEWS, NORTH CAROLINA (12/9/2023) – The Franklin Pierce University men's soccer program showcased why they were ranked number one nationally every week of the 2023 season on Saturday night following a dominant 4-0 victory over Colorado State Pueblo which crowned the Ravens NCAA Division II Champions for the second year in a row. With the victory, the Ravens close out the season with a final record of 21-0-2 (11-0-0, NE10).

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The first half of the NCAA Division II championship was a dog fight between Franklin Pierce and C.S. Pueblo which included 8 fouls between the two teams and a pair of yellow cards for the Thunder Wolves. Though chippy, neither team found the back of the net in the first 45 minutes.
• Following half time, the Ravens offense turned on the jets offensively starting with the first goal of the game scored in the 49^th minute by Aaron Sanchez Sanchez (A Coruña, Spain). Pushing into the offensive zone, graduate defender Rodrigo Parafita Bestilliero (A Coruña, Spain) hit a cross to graduate forward Younes Addar Khanoussi (Castellon, Spain). Addar was unable to finish, but the pass deflected off the Pueblo goal keeper and landed in front of Sanchez on the back post who fired the shot into the back of the net.
• Just over 20 minutes later, the Pierce sophomore Antonio Lampreia Lima (Lisbon, Portugal) created some breathing room for the Ravens. After a clean stop from the Raven defense, Jeronimo Ferrando Ferri (Valencia, Spain) caught a pass and pushed up field. As the Raven offense pushed forward, Ferri chipped a pass to a streaking Lampreia Lima who held a strong lead on his defender. The Thunderwolves' goalkeeper pushed far out of net to make a sliding save but Lima chipped the ball over him which then rolled into the back of the net, pushing the score to 2-0.
• In the 76^th minute, a yellow card in the offensive zone helped the the Ravens extend their lead even more. Junior midfielder Caleb Williams pushed up field when he was tripped by a full leg extension from C.S. Pueblo's Dylan Zacatini. Lining up 10 yards north of the box, Williams fired a shot that curved for the top left corner. Pueblo's goal keeper was able to get a hand on it but it wasn't enough to stop the shot.
• The final dagger from the Ravens came with just over three minutes to play in the Championship game. Flying up field and mixing in quick passes the ball went from Aaron Sanchez to Tiago Barriguinha (Alverca, Portugal) and finally to junior defender Pedro Branco (Lagoa, Portugal) who fired a shot by the Pueblo goalkeeper.
• Along with strong offensive play in the Championship game, the Franklin Pierce Defense created a brick all around their own net.
• Senior Goalie Karl Vernet (Miami, Fl.) stood on his head making diving and jumping saves. Through the 90 minute match Vernet tallied a career high seven saves on seven shots which counted for a personal record and shutout in the biggest game of the season. 

BREAKING DOWN THE STATS:

• Shots: FPU: 12 C.S. Pueblo: 11
• Fouls: FPU 9, C.S. Pueblo 6
• Yellow Cards: FPU 2, C.S. Pueblo 5

POST GAME RECOGNITION:

 MEN'S SOCCER ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Lewis #10 Joram Bogers
Florida Tech #5 Sjur Dreschler
CSU Pueblo #2 Dylan Zavatini
CSU Pueblo #7 Caio Oliveira
 CSU Pueblo #14 Kenshin Uneo
Franklin Pierce #1 Karl Vernet
Franklin Pierce #7 Aaron Sanchez Sanchez 
Franklin Pierce #8 Jeronimo Ferrando Ferri
Franklin Pierce #9 Younes Addar
Franklin Pierce #10 Antonio Lampreia Lima
Franklin Pierce #14 Thomas Espereo

Most Outstanding Defensive Player from Franklin Pierce #14 Thomas Espereo
Most Outstanding Offensive Player from Franklin Pierce #10 Antonio Lampreia Lima

SEASON NOTES:

• Record: 21-0-2 (11-0-0, NE10)
• Goals: 73
• Goals Allowed: 16