#14 Franklin Pierce
Defeats Stonehill, 5-1
Clifton hat trick extends lead late
as Ravens run winning streak to seven

RINDGE, N.H. (September 29, 2007) – Franklin Pierce University, ranked 14^th in this week’s National Soccer Coaches’ Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II coaches’ poll, remained perfect in Conference play with a commanding 5-1 victory over Stonehill College in Northeast-10 men’s soccer action at Sodexho Field tonight.

            Franklin Pierce controlled the match from beginning to end, running its winning streak to seven matches, while remaining perfect in Northeast-10 play, and extended its unbeaten run to nine matches. The Ravens have now won nine-straight NE-10 regular season matches dating back to late last season. Franklin Pierce out-shot Stonehill 25-3 for the match, including 16-3 in the second half, and posted a 16-2 advantage in shots on target.

Grad student David Clifton (London, England) scored the final three goals of the match to lead Franklin Pierce, recording his first career hat trick. Sophomore Matthijs Eppinga (Drachten, The Netherlands) dished two assists, while junior Cole Larned (Wilton, Conn./Wilton) and freshman Johan Torstensson (Falkoping, Sweden) each netted goals.

Sophomore goalkeeper Brian Guerrini (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) made 11 saves to keep Stonehill in the match until late. Senior All-American James Thorpe (East Longmeadow, Mass./Bridgton Academy) made one save in goal for Franklin Pierce. Thorpe moved into sixth place on the NCAA Division II career list for minutes played, extending his program record total to 7,157.

Franklin Pierce opened the scoring just 75-seconds into the match as Larned collected a long pass from the halfway line by senior captain Michel Vitulano (Montreal, Quebec/College de Maisonneuve) and chipped a shot past Guerrini on the first shot of the match. The Ravens doubled their lead in the 29^th minute when Torstensson collected a defensive turnover at the top of the penalty area and broke in one-on-one with Guerrini and rifled a shot into the roof of the goal.

Stonehill cut its deficit in half and looked to make a game of it in the 69^th minute. Pohl stripped the ball off a defender’s boot and broke in one-on-one with Thorpe, depositing a low shot from 14-yards out in the left channel into the right corner of the net. The goal marked the Skyhawks first against Franklin Pierce since a 2-1 double-overtime loss on October 21, 2002 – snapping a streak of 467:12 scoreless minutes since that second half goal. The goal was the first Franklin Pierce has conceded in four matches – snapping a streak of 392:03 scoreless minutes for Thorpe and the Ravens.

Franklin Pierce and Clifton ended any hopes of a comeback as the Ravens were awarded a penalty kick in the 74^th minute when Eppinga was pulled down at the top of the six. Clifton netted his second penalty of the week to put the Ravens up 3-1. Clifton struck again in the 82^nd minute when he collected a pass from Eppinga and chipped a shot over Guerrini from the upper left corner of the six. Eppinga and Clifton combined again at 88-minutes even. Clifton took a pass from Eppinga and curled a shot inside the right post from 10-yards out on the left channel.

Franklin Pierce (8-1-1, 7-0-0 NE-10) is back in action on Tuesday when it hosts Le Moyne College, ranked fourth in the New England Region, in a battle for first place in the NE-10 standings at 4 p.m. Stonehill (2-7-1, 0-6-0 NE-10) hosts Bryant University on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

MATCH STATISTICS & PLAY-BY-PLAY