Donovan notches second career multiple-goal game

WATERBURY, Conn. (September 4, 2014) – Sophomore forward Dallas Donovan (South Yarmouth, Mass.) scored twice on Thursday afternoon for the Franklin Pierce University men's soccer team, but an 88th-minute goal was the difference, as No. 24 nationally ranked Post picked up a 4-3, season-opening win in non-conference play at LaMoy Field. Junior forward Raphael Moura scored twice, including the late game-winner, in the win for Post.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce opens the season at 0-1-0 (0-0-0 Northeast-10), while Post improves to 1-0-0 (0-0-0 Northeast-10).

Post jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first quarter-hour on Thursday, with goals in the 11th and 14th minutes. Junior midfielder Gustavo Ferreira opened the scoring 10:36 into the first half, when he headed home a ricochet in the aftermath of a corner kick. Junior forward Francisco Sastre sent the ball into the box, where it deflected off of senior midfielder Henry Ipina and wound up on the head of Ferreira, who put it away. Three minutes later, Sastre had his shot turned aside by sophomore goalkeeper Aidan Abolfazli (Worcester, Mass.), but junior forward Tiago Martins cleaned up the rebound with a header to the back of the net to make it 2-0.

Franklin Pierce got on the board in the 25th minute on Donovan's first of the game. Donovan headed the ball into the top-right corner to finish off a cross from the right side by graduate student midfielder Bruno Fati (Brussels, Belgium).

Post reclaimed the two-goal lead in the 27th minute on an unassisted goal by junior forward Raphael Moura.

The Eagles held the 3-1 lead into the second half, before Franklin Pierce rallied to draw level at 3-3 with goals in the 52nd and 75th minutes. First, junior midfielder Lorris Cortijo (Paris, France) served a corner kick into the box and sophomore midfielder Casey Schehl (Bedford, N.H.) headed it home for his first career goal. Later, Donovan put home the rebound for his second of the night after a shot by junior forward Marius Preber (Jessheim, Norway) was turned aside. For Donovan, it was his second career multiple-goal game.

With the game even and time winding down, Moura found the game-winner, his second of the afternoon, on a long-range shot from outside the penalty area. Martins picked up the assist on the play.

Franklin Pierce held a 14-11 advantage in shot attempts, including 10-4 in the second half, as well as a 10-9 edge in shots on goal. Abolfazli made five saves and suffered the loss (0-1-0) in front of the net for Franklin Pierce. At the other end of the field, sophomore goalkeeper Serigne Baba Gaye played the first 51:23 for Post, made two saves against four shots on goal and did not factor in the decision. Sophomore Jon Hanlon logged the final 38:37, made five saves against six shots and picked up the win (1-0-0).

The Ravens return to the field on Saturday, Sept. 6, when they host Bridgeport in a non-conference contest for their first home game. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Sodexo Field in Rindge.

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