Miranda and Wright net goals to hand defending National
Champions first defeat
Boxscore
RINDGE,
N.H. (August 30, 2008) - Dominican College handed
defending National Champion Franklin Pierce University, ranked No.
1 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America
(NSCAA)/adidas Division II preseason poll, its first loss of the
year with a 2-0 decision on day two of the Franklin Pierce Labor
Day Classic at Sodexo Field tonight.
Dominican handed Franklin Pierce
its first loss since a 1-0 overtime loss to Merrimack College in
the semifinal round of the 2007 Northeast-10 Conference Tournament
last November. The Chargers got goals in each half from sophomore
Edwin Miranda (Stamford, Conn./Westhill) and junior Joe
Wright (Stratford-Upon-Avon, England), respectively.
Freshman goalkeeper Brandon
Heembrock (Ottawa, Ontario/St. Mark Catholic) didn't face
a shot on goal in posting his second-straight shutout to start his
collegiate career. Franklin Pierce posted an 11-6 advantage in
shots for the match, including 10-4 in the second half, but its
inability to test Heembrock with a shot on target provided no
chance for victory.
Sophomore Carl Contrascier
(Hinkley, Ohio/Highland) made one save in goal for the
Ravens.
Chances were few and far between in
the opening 45 minutes. Dominican had two of the three combined
shots in the half, with Miranda netting the opener 35:22 into the
match on the Chargers second shot. He took advantage when
Contrascier was unable to collect a loose ball on the end line and
the Ravens defensive clear went straight to Miranda stepping into
the shot and finding the upper left corner of the goal.
Wright provided a two-goal cushion
9:16 into the second half, taking a pass from freshman Alan
Heavey (Huntington Station, N.Y./Walt Whitman), and his
knuckling volley from the top of the 18 on the right side fooled
the Franklin Pierce keeper and found the left side of the net.
Franklin Pierce (1-1, 0-0 NE-10)
looks to get back on track next Saturday, when it visits
9th-ranked Dowling College in a rematch of last year's
NCAA Quarterfinal at 7 p.m. The Ravens are back at Sodexo Field on
Tuesday, September 9, to host Le Moyne College in their
Northeast-10 opener at 3:30 p.m. Dominican (2-0, 0-0 CACC) hosts Le
Moyne on Wednesday at 2 p.m.
