COLCHESTER, Vt. 9/7/25 - With just two minutes remaining in a tied match against the Saint Michael's Purple Knights, Guillermo Avendaño (Luanco, Spain) delivered the game-winning goal off a decisive pass from Joaco Lauria Calvo (Salta, Argentina), sealing a thrilling 4-3 victory. The win advances the Ravens to a 3-0 NE10 conference record in their 2025 campaign.
Score: Franklin Pierce 4, Saint Michael's 3
Records: Franklin Pierce (5-2-1, 3-0-0 NE10), Saint Michael's (6-3-1, 3-2-0 NE10)
Location: Duffy Field, Saint Michael's College, Colchester, Vt.
Date: Tuesday, October 7, 2025
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After a slow offensive start from the Saint Michael's Purple Knights, Guillermo Rios (Asunción, Paraguay) put the Ravens on the board first, capitalizing on a well-placed corner kick from Joao Araujo (Madeira, Spain) with a header into the left corner of the net.
- Both defenses held firm through much of the first half, until the final 16 seconds when a penalty caused by Stepan Fiker (Prague, Czech Republic) led to an equalizer for the Purple Knights, as Xolo Mirales headed it home to send the teams into halftime tied 1-1.
- The Ravens wasted no time regaining the lead in the second half. Just one minute in, Miguel D'Amico (São Paulo, Brazil) sent a precise cross into the box, where Araujo finished the chance to make it 2-1.
- Saint Michael's quickly responded. A foul by D'Amico set up a free kick opportunity, and Marshall Butler converted to bring the score back to 2-2. Momentum shifted shortly after when a yellow card on Araujo gave the Purple Knights another dangerous set piece. Rodrigo Salamanca Lopez took full advantage, scoring to give Saint Michael's their first lead of the match at 3-2.
- In need of an equalizer, the Ravens responded again, this time from a set piece. On another corner from Araujo, Fiker tipped the ball past the goalkeeper to level the score at 3-3.
- With time winding down and both teams pushing for a winner, Joaco Lauria Calvo (Salta, Argentina) delivered a perfectly timed pass through the Purple Knights' defense to Guillermo Avendaño (Luanco, Spain), who buried the game-winning goal with just two minutes remaining.
- The Ravens secured a thrilling 4-3 victory to improve to 3-0 in NE10 play, maintaining their perfect start to the 2025 conference season.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Araujo tallied 1 goal and recorded two assists.
- Rios would lead the team with 6 shots.
- 10 yellow cards were handed out throughout the game, 4 to Pierce and 6 to Saint Michael's.
- The Ravens outshot the Purple Knights 24 to 13.
UP NEXT FOR THE RAVENS: The Ravens will return to Sodexo Field for a NE10 matchup featuring the Owls of Southern Connecticut State University on Saturday, October 11th.