#14 Franklin Pierce Blanks Southern New Hampshire, 2-0
Ravens use two second half goals to remain unbeaten in last eight, perfect in NE-10 play

MANCHESTER, N.H. (September 26, 2007) – Franklin Pierce University, ranked 14^th in this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II coaches’ poll, scored twice in the second half to post a 2-0 victory over in-state rivals Southern New Hampshire University in Northeast-10 Conference men’s soccer action at Larkin Field tonight.

Franklin Pierce scored twice in a three-minute span midway through the second half to run its unbeaten streak to eight matches and remain perfect through its first six NE-10 contests. Grad student David Clifton (London, England) and senior Bisharra Ettienne (East Elmhurst, N.Y./Dominica State College) netted goals for the Ravens.

Senior All-America goalkeeper James Thorpe (East Longmeadow, Mass./Bridgton Academy) made two saves to preserve his third-straight shutout, running his season total to five (42^nd career). Thorpe also became just the ninth goalkeeper in NCAA Division II history to reach the 7,000 career minute plateau in the match as his 7,067 career minutes played are good for eighth all-time.

Senior Dan Pelc (Hamilton, Ontario/St. Thomas More) made four saves in goal for Southern New Hampshire. Franklin Pierce posted a 10-7 advantage in shots for the match, but SNHU held a 6-5 edge in the second half.

            Franklin Pierce broke through in the 67^th minute when it was awarded a penalty kick on a foul on the right side of the 18. Clifton slotted the kick into the left side of the net for his fifth goal in just five matches since returning from an injury. The Ravens doubled their advantage less than three minutes later when Ettienne pounced on a rebound at the far post for his second marker of the season. Pelc made a nice save on the initial shot by sophomore Henning Comé (Gothenburg, Sweden), but couldn’t prevent the rebound and Ettienne fired the loose ball into the right side of the goal in the 69^th minute.

            Franklin Pierce (7-1-1, 6-0-0 NE-10) is back in action on Saturday when it hosts Stonehill College at 7 p.m. Southern New Hampshire (2-4-3, 2-3-1 NE-10) hosts American International College on Saturday at 4 p.m.

MATCH STATISTICS & PLAY-BY-PLAY