Three Ravens notch top-20s

RINDGE, N.H. (October 18, 2014) – Sophomore Joey Souza (West Bridgewater, Mass.) ran an 8K time of 31:10.0 on Saturday afternoon to lead the way for the Franklin Pierce University men's cross country team at the Gates Farm Northeast-10 Preview Meet, which was hosted by the Ravens. Franklin Pierce finished with 86 points and placed third of five teams at the meet.

Saturday's event was designed to give Northeast-10 Conference teams a chance to look at Franklin Pierce's home course in advance of the Northeast-10 Championship, which will be held in Rindge on Sunday, Nov. 9.

Souza's time was good for sixth in the 46-runner field, and he was one of three Ravens to finish in the top 20, as sophomore Dylan Crowley (Woburn, Mass.) placed 17th (31:53.3) and freshman Brendan McCoo finished 20th (32:09.3). Rounding out Franklin Pierce's five scoring positions were freshman Martin Gradijan in 23rd (32:36.9) and freshman Derek Robbie (Bellingham, Mass.) in 24th (32:38.5).

Five other Ravens competed in the Gates Farm Preview Meet on Saturday: sophomore Christian Barbosa (Union, N.J.) finished 25th (32:41.6), freshman Zane Robidoux (Goffstown, N.H.) placed 27th (33:15.4), junior Mike Frappier (Concord, N.H.) was 32nd (33:58.2), junior Chris Birotte (Lynn, Mass.) finished 37th (35:10.2) and sophomore Alex Bonitto (Lynn, Mass.) placed 39th (35:24.0).

Stonehill (35 points) finished first on Saturday, narrowly edging out Saint Rose (43), which finished second. Behind Franklin Pierce, Saint Michael's (93) in fourth and Saint Anselm (126) in fifth rounded out the field.

Individually, senior Eamonn Coughlin of Saint Rose ran a 30:19.9 to finish first. Saint Michael's senior Alex Gilgore was second (30:28.4), while a trio of Stonehill seniors rounded out the top-five: Daniel Zawalich in third (30:46.2), Bryan Wilcox in fourth (30:46.5) and Trent Fontanella in fifth (30:46.8).

The Ravens are back in action on Friday, Oct. 24, when they travel to the CCSU Mini Meet, hosted by Central Connecticut State at Stanley Park in New Britain, Conn.

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 cross country apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).