Gareth Dudney logs first goal of the season

LOWELL, Mass. (September 11, 2012) -- The No. 6 nationally-ranked Franklin Pierce University men's soccer team saw its regular season unbeaten streak snapped at 30 on Tuesday night as the Ravens fell, 3-2, to UMass-Lowell at Cushing Field in Lowell. Franklin Pierce dipped to 2-1 overall and 0-1 in the Northeast-10, while Lowell improved to 3-0-1 and 2-0 in league play.

Franklin Pierce's incredible streak, which stretched all the way back to the 2010 season, began on Cushing Field back on Sept. 14, 2010, as the Ravens shook off a prior setback to Dowling by defeating UMass-Lowell 2-0. The Ravens went a remarkable 28-0-2 during the streak.

The other streak that was stopped on Tuesday was Franklin Pierce's line of 34-consecutive NE-10 regular season matches without a loss (31-0-3), which stretched all the way back to the 2009 campaign.

Senior midfielder Amory Houghton (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) logged a goal and an assist for a three-point evening as the Ravens tried to rally in the second half, but could not complete the comeback. Three different Lowell players scored in the important victory.

The River Hawks carried the pace of play in the first half and scored twice in a 13-minute span to take a 2-0 lead by the 38th minute.

Lowell scored its first marker in the 25th minute as Homero Morais took a touch from Daniel Galvin at the 18, dribbled along the right side of the box and lifted a strike to the upper right corner of the net. Galvin picked up the primary assist, while Neil Lavanchy tallied a secondary helper for sending the long sky pass deep towards the box to Galvin. 

The River Hawks notched their second tally in the 38th minute as Felipe Fagundes scored an unassisted goal from just outside the right side of the box.

Franklin Pierce settled itself and responded with a surge in play, finally sending a shot into the back of net in the 42nd minute as graduate back Tom Leaver (Warwickshire, UK) sent a lob pass into the box where Houghton was able to slide a soft header past Lowell keeper Chris Maierle. It was Houghton's first goal of the season, while Leaver picked up his first point of the campaign with the assist.

Franklin Pierce continued the strong pace of play in the opening minutes of the second half and freshman midfielder Nico Mueller (Mannheim, Germany) just narrowly missed tying it four minutes in as his shot from the 18 had to be deflected over the cross bar at the last second by Maierle.

The Ravens, however, couldn't get the equalizer and Lowell took advantage of the miss in the 55th minute as it pushed the lead out to 3-1 as Kyle Garvan sent in a header off a free kick from in front of the goal. Kevin Zapata sent in the free kick and was credited with an assist on the play.

The goal failed to unravel Franklin Pierce as it mounted another rally minutes later. Junior forward Gareth Dudney (North Andover, Mass.) highlighted the surge with his first goal of the season in 69th minute as he redirected in a header attempt from senior forward Greg Giguere (East Bridgewater, Mass.). Giguere, who was coming off a three-goal performance in Saturday's 5-4 win at Wilmington (Del.), logged an assist on the play and has recorded at least one point in each of the first three matches this season. Houghton also picked up an assist on the play as his crossing pass was sent towards Giguere, who started the scramble in front of the net.

The goal awakened the Ravens and they had two solid scoring chances over the next several minutes, including one from Giguere, who just missed tying it as he lost his balance while trying to fire off a shot. The Ravens couldn't get the equalizer before the final horn sounded.

Graduate goalkeeper Jake Wright (Los Angeles, Calif.) suffered the loss in net to fall to 2-1, despite making three saves. Maierle also made three stops to earn the victory for the River Hawks.

The Ravens return to action Saturday night when they play host to No. 3 Southern New Hampshire at 7 p.m. on Sodexo Field in Rindge.

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).