Ravens pick up first win of the season
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Terence Ciavarra helped lead a defensive unit which limited
Bridgeport to just eight shots in the contest.
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RINDGE, N.H. (September 7,
2013) – The Franklin Pierce University men's
soccer team got timely saves from junior keeper Sam Meza
(Whittier, Calif.), and a huge goal from sophomore
David Stipp (Weiler, Rheinland-Pfalz), to pick up
its first win of the season on Saturday via a 1-0 triumph over
Bridgeport at Sodexo Field in Rindge. The Ravens evened their
record at 1-1, while the Purple Knights dipped to 0-1.
Stipp's goal came in the
34th minute off a free kick attempt by senior
Gareth Dudney (North Andover, Mass.), who dropped
in a nice boot at the front of the goal. Senior Jefferson
Rojas (Pawtucket, R.I.) nudged the ball with his leg over
to Stipp, who slipped in a shot to the lower right corner for his
first collegiate marker.
Rojas picked up an assist on the
play for his first point of the season, and while not gaining an
assist, Dudney had a big hand in the play, as he has now factored
into both goals scored by the Ravens this season.
Franklin Pierce had a couple of
chances in the second half to put the match out of reach, but could
not convert.
That left the door open for
Bridgeport to potentially knot the score, and the Purple Knights
were able to generate a steady offensive push late in the contest.
However, Meza came up with three big saves, including a leaping one
off a header attempt inside of 12 minutes to keep it a 1-0
score.
The win was Meza's first of
his career, coming in just his second collegiate start. He improved
to 1-1 in the process, and lowered his goals against average to
0.91 on the season.
Franklin Pierce held an 11-8
advantage in shots, marking the second time in as many contests
this season the Ravens totaled more attempts than the
opposition.
Augustin Prados made a pair of
saves in the setback for the Purple Knights, but could not stop
Stipp's chip in, which proved to be the match-winner.
The win also avenged Franklin
Pierce's 1-0 setback at Bridgeport last season, which came
five minutes into overtime. Saturday's contest also marked
the seventh-consecutive match between the two schools that was
decided by a goal or less. Franklin Pierce owns a 4-2-1 mark in
those seven meetings with neither side being able to string
together consecutive wins.
Franklin Pierce returns to action
Wednesday when the Ravens play host to Post at 7 p.m. in Sodexo
Field.
For more information on Franklin
Pierce men's soccer, please visit the team's page at http://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 on the athletic department's online store
at athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store(.)
