Petropanagos, McMahon and Vitulano all earn first team spots for Ravens

RINDGE, N.H. (December 11, 2006) - Three members of the Franklin Pierce men's soccer team have earned spots on ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District I teams as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Senior Peter Petropanagos (Mississauga, Ontario/York University) was named to the first team for the second-straight year, while junior Michel Vitulano (Montreal, Quebec/College de Maisonneuve) earned second team honors for the second-straight year and classmate Brendan McMahon (Chapelhall, Scotland) is a first time honoree with his selection to the second team. The Ravens three selections are the most for one year in program history and Petropanagos is now eligible for Academic All-America honors for the second-straight year.        

Petropanagos, a first team Academic All-District selection for the second-straight year, has earned a 3.84 cumulative grade point average as a pre-med major at the College. He earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America third team honors in 2005, is a two-time Northeast-10 Conference All-Academic first team pick and NE-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll student, earning Gold Scholar status in 2005-06, and is a member of Chi Alpha Sigma National Student-Athlete Honor Society.

Petropanagos has been a three-year mainstay for a Franklin Pierce defensive unit that has ranked in the top ten among NCAA Division II leaders each fall. A two-time All-Northeast-10 selection, earning first team honors this fall, Petropanagos is a key part of a Ravens defensive unit which led Division II with a 0.44 team goals against average and 15 shutouts this fall. Franklin Pierce yielded just three goals (0.25 GAA) in 12 Conference matches this season. He also earned All-Tournament team honors at the NCAA New England Regional Tournament this season.

Petropanagos has five assists for five career points, with them all coming during Franklin Pierce's run to the NCAA Division II National Championship match in 2005.           

Vitulano, who collects second team Academic All-District honors for the second-straight year, has earned a 3.47 cumulative GPA while majoring in mass communication. An NE-10 All-Academic first team and All-NE-10 second team honoree this fall as well, Vitulano is also a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma National Student-Athlete Honor Roll and was a Northeast-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll Bronze Scholar last year.

The defensive-minded midfielder is a two-year co-captain for Franklin Pierce and a key member of the Ravens defensive unit that led Division II in goals against average (0.44) and shutouts (15). Vitulano has also recorded three goals (two match-winners) and an assist for seven points, including a goal (match-winner) and assist in a key  2-1 regular season victory at No. 12 Southern Connecticut State University on October 17.

In 55 career matches, Vitulano has totaled five goals (three match-winners) and two assists for 12 points. The Ravens have also ranked among NCAA Division II defensive leaders each of his three seasons and he earned All-Tournament team honors at the 2004 NCAA Division II New England Regional.  

McMahon also an NE-10 All-Academic first team and All-NE-10 third team honoree this fall, collects Academic All-District honors for the first time having earned a 3.59 cumulative GPA while majoring in finance at the College. An NE-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll Silver Scholar in 2005-06, McMahon shares the team lead with five assists, with two setting up match-winning goals, in 22 starts this season.

McMahon is a two-year starter with the Franklin Pierce defensive unit after transferring from Auburn University-Montgomery where he was also a member of an NAIA national finalist team in 2004. Since coming to Franklin Pierce, the Ravens have yielded just 36 goals in 49 matches (0.74/match) with 29 shutouts. McMahon has collected two goals and eight assists for 12 points in 47 matches played for the Ravens.

Franklin Pierce (17-2-3, 10-1-1 NE-10), ranked No. 9 in the final National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, captured the Northeast-10 Conference Championship double for the first time in program history, claiming its second-straight regular season crown and winning its first tournament title. The Ravens earned their fourth-straight NCAA Tournament berth (12^th overall), falling in the New England Regional final.