Lukas Cramer picks up assist on match-winning goal
RINDGE, N.H. (October 13, 2012) – The Franklin Pierce University men's soccer team pulled off a furious second half rally on Saturday night to pick up a 2-1 win over American International at Sodexo Field in Rindge. The Ravens improved to 9-3 overall and 7-2 in the Northeast-10, while the Yellow Jackets fell to 3-9-2 and 3-5-2 in league play.
The Ravens could not generate much consistency throughout the first half and found themselves trailing 1-0 at halftime after AIC's Jason Burnusuz chipped in a rebound attempt in the 23rd minute.
Franklin Pierce, though, was determined to shake off the sluggish play in the second half and went right to work pushing the pace of play onto AIC's side of the field.
The Ravens fired off several shots in the first three minutes, but could not come up with the equalizer. That all changed, though, in the 56th minute when sophomore midfielder David Lima (Everett, Mass.) took a pass near midfield, dribbled down the right hand side, made a great individual move crossing into the center of the box and ripped a strike that beat the Yellow Jackets goalkeeper Sebastian Tomayo (0-1) to the upper left corner of the net.
It was Lima's first collegiate goal and it was the second time in the last three matches he earned at least a point as he picked up an assist in Franklin Pierce's 2-0 triumph at New Haven last Saturday.
Franklin Pierce kept forcing the issue in the offensive zone and it wasn't long before the Ravens went on top for good as graduate back Daniel Donaldson (Moenchengladbach, Germany) headed in a laser in the 63rd minute. Donaldson worked his way to the upper right corner of the box and sent a rocket to the upper right corner of the net off an outstanding free kick attempt by junior forward Lukas Cramer (Olsberg, Germany), who was credited with an assist on the play.
AIC tried to rally, but the Ravens kept pushing the ball back onto the Yellow Jackets side of the field. Franklin Pierce at one point held a commanding 17-5 advantage in shots and finished with a 19-11 edge in that department.
The Yellow Jackets did have one final outstanding scoring chance late as Conor Doyle worked his way into the lower left corner of the box and redirected a crossing pass with his head which was headed straight to the upper left corner of the net. Ravens keeper Jake Wright (Los Angeles, Calif.), though, was able to dive over and swat away the shot right before it crossed the line, thus enabling the Ravens to keep their one goal lead. It was Wright's lone save of the night and it came at a crucial time as he improved to 9-3 on the season.
Franklin Pierce returns to action Wednesday when the Ravens travel to Colchester, Vt. to face Saint Michael's in a 3 p.m. kick.
For more information on Franklin Pierce men's soccer, please visit the team's page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.) To follow the program even further, please visit Franklin Pierce Athletics on YouTube (www.youtube.com/FranklinPierceSports), Twitter (www.twitter.com/FPUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce men's soccer apparel can do so at the athletic department's brand new online store at athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store(.)
