Ravens back in action on Sept. 4 against Bridgeport

Box Score

RINDGE, N.H. (August 29, 2009) – Freshman forward Betim Bajrami scored the only goal of the game 6:46 into overtime on Saturday afternoon to give C.W. Post a 1-0 victory over the No. 16 nationally ranked Franklin Pierce University men’s soccer team in non-conference action at Sodexo Field.

With the win, C.W. Post improves to 1-1 (0-0 East Coast), while Franklin Pierce falls to 1-1 (0-0 Northeast-10) with the loss.

With the wet field conditions, the teams slogged through a scoreless first half, with C.W. Post collecting an 8-5 edge in the shots department. Among the best chances of the first half for C.W. Post came in the 13th minute when sophomore midfielder David Carlsson whistled a shot just wide of the left post on a free kick from the top of the 18-yard box. Just over two minutes later, Franklin Pierce would get one of its best chances of the opening stanza. Junior back Shaliek Dawkins (Kingston, Jamaica) found the ball on his feet in the middle of the box, but his shot attempt was blocked aside by the defense. Sophomore midfielder Victor Goncalves (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) stepped into the rebound, but pushed it wide outside the far post.

The Ravens had another opportunity to open the scoring in the 23rd minute on a free kick from outside the top of the penalty area by freshman midfielder Samuel Kelley (Bedford, N.H.). C.W. Post graduate student goalkeeper Shane Flanagan was equal to the task, however, and punched the ball over the crossbar to keep the match scoreless.

Just like the first half, the second half was scoreless as well. In the 60th minute, senior forward Sean Ahern (Somers, Conn.) had an opportunity from the right side that was turned aside by Flanagan. The Ravens threatened again in the 76th minute when Kelley slipped behind Flanagan, who had come off his line in an attempt to play the ball. However, the C.W. Post defense challenged the shot from the top of the penalty area and Kelley missed just outside the left post.

C.W. Post’s best opportunity of the second half came in the 78th minute when Bajrami got loose on the left side and lifted a shot towards the far post. Franklin Pierce sophomore goalkeeper Alexander Pilitsis (Brunswick, Maine) deflected the shot, which then hit the crossbar and caromed out of play.

The game remained scoreless into overtime, when C.W. Post was awarded a free kick at the top of the 18-yard box in the 97th minute. Carlsson touched the ball to his right to Bajrami, who beat Pilitsis to the upper right corner to give the Pioneers the victory.

Franklin Pierce outshot C.W. Post 12-1 in the second half and finished the game with 17-10 edge after the Pioneers took the only shot of the extra session. The Ravens attempted nine corner kicks to four for C.W. Post.

Flanagan stopped all seven shots sent his way to post the clean sheet and earn the victory (1-1-0) in net for C.W. Post. Pilitsis stopped six of the seven shots taken on his cage, but took the loss (1-1-0) for Franklin Pierce.

The Ravens return to the pitch on Friday, Sept. 4, when they host Bridgeport at 7 p.m. as part of the Franklin Pierce Labor Day Classic. The game is part of Pierce Pride Kickoff 2009, featuring games, giveaways, promotions and a postgame fireworks display, courtesy of Atlas Pyrotechnics.