#10 Franklin Pierce Rolls 
Past Saint Anselm, 6-3
Clifton nets four goals as Ravens 
remain unbeaten in last 11

MANCHESTER, N.H. (October 6, 2007) – Franklin Pierce University, ranked 10th in this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II coaches’ poll, fell behind early, but answered with six-straight goals before settling for a 6-3 victory over Saint Anselm College in Northeast-10 Conference men’s soccer action at Melucci Field this afternoon.

            Grad student David Clifton (London, England) netted a career-best four goals, three of which came in the first half alone, as Franklin Pierce scored six-straight goals to erase an early 1-0 deficit. Freshman Johan Torstensson (Falkoping, Sweden) dished two assists on the afternoon, while junior Frantz Francois (Saint-Marc, Haiti) and senior All-American Bisharra Ettienne (East Elmhurst, N.Y./Dominica State College) each collected goals for the Ravens.            

Junior Sam Lamptey (Worcester, Mass./Worcester North) registered a goal and assist for Saint Anselm, while sophomore Tyler Sangster (Duxbury, Mass./Duxbury) and junior William McDonald (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) each contributed goals.

            Senior All-American James Thorpe (East Longmeadow, Mass./Bridgton Academy) made four saves in goal for Franklin Pierce. Senior Scott Johnson (Plymouth, Mass./Trinity College) made two saves in the first half, before giving way to sophomore John Corridan (Holliston, Mass./Skidmore) who registered a stop over the final 45-minutes.

            Saint Anselm became the first team to score first against Franklin Pierce this season when it struck just 53-seconds into the match. Lamptey set up Sangster for his first goal of the season.            

Franklin Pierce answered with four goals to take control by halftime, three off the boot of Clifton. He opened his first half hat trick in the 20^th minute, assisted by Torstensson. Clifton struck again less than five minutes later with an unassisted strike at 24:19. Francois netted his first goal of the season, off a pass from Torstensson, at 29:20 before Clifton rounded out the first half scoring when he headed in a corner kick by senior Mike Lima (Ludlow, Mass./Ludlow) at 35:14.

            Franklin Pierce continued the onslaught just 3:25 into the second half as Ettienne headed in a corner kick from senior captain Michel Vitulano (Montreal, Quebec/College de Maisonneuve). The Ravens rounded out their scoring at 49:54 with Clifton’s fourth marker of the day.

            Saint Anselm wouldn’t go quietly as Lamptey converted a penalty kick just 13-seconds after Clifton’s goal. The Hawks rounded out the scoring with McDonald’s first goal of the year in the 80^th minute.

            Franklin Pierce (9-1-2, 8-0-1 NE-10) returns to action on Wednesday when it visits No. 19 Merrimack College at 7 p.m. Saint Anselm (4-7-1, 2-6-0 NE-10) visits fourth-ranked UMass Lowell on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

MATCH STATISTICS & PLAY-BY-PLAY