Freshman Viktor Gonçalves scored both Franklin Pierce goals
in today's 2-1 win at Merrimack. PHOTO BY Andrew
Katsampes.
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Gonçalves double leads Ravens back from a goal down
Boxscore
RINDGE, N.H. (October 25,
2008) - Defending NCAA Division II Champion Franklin
Pierce University, ranked ninth in this week's National Soccer
Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II East
Regional poll, got back in the hunt for a fourth-straight
Northeast-10 regular season title with a key 2-1 victory at
Merrimack College, ranked seventh in the region, in men's soccer
action at Warriors Field this afternoon.
Franklin Pierce (11-6-1, 9-2-1
NE-10) can claim at least a share of the NE-10 regular season title
with a win at American International College in its regular season
finale on Wednesday night (Lusitano Stadium, Ludlow, Mass., 7 p.m.)
if Southern New Hampshire University (13-1-3, 9-0-3 NE-10) draws at
UMass Lowell that night. The Ravens would clinch the title outright
if UMass Lowell picks up the victory.
Freshman Viktor
Gonçalves (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) scored both
Franklin Pierce goals as the Ravens overcame a one goal deficit
just eight minutes into the match. Junior Sean Ahern
(Somers, Conn./Somers) assisted on one of the
Gonçalves goals.
Freshman goalkeeper Vinny Papageorgiou made three saves to preserve
the win. PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes.
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Freshman goalkeeper Vinny
Papageorgiou (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington) made three
saves to preserve the victory for Franklin Pierce. Senior
Rob Pedra (South Hamilton, Mass./Hamilton-Wenham)
stopped four shots for Merrimack. The Ravens finished with a 13-7
advantage in shots for the match.
Merrimack junior Greg Motta
(Saunderstown, R.I./LaSalle) opened the scoring when he
knocked in a corner kick from senior Wayne Sygrove
(Yorkshire, England) just eight minutes into the contest.
Franklin Pierce equalized just shy
of the half-hour mark when Gonçalves knocked in a loose
rebound off a shot from Ahern for his tenth goal of the season.
Gonçalves added his 11th in the 54th
minute when he fired in a loose ball off a failed clearing attempt
by the Merrimack defense in front of the goal which would hold up
as the winner.
Franklin Pierce will host a
Northeast-10 Quarterfinal round match next Sunday, November 2
(time/opponent TBA). Merrimack (9-4-3, 6-4-2 NE-10) visits
Stonehill College on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
