#16 Franklin Pierce Finishes
With Win Over #20 Bentley, 3-2
Bakker tallies goal and assist,
Reid heads in winner in 85th

MANCHESTER, N.H. (October 30, 2003) – Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 16 in this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, scored three second half goals for the second time this week to post a 3-2 victory over No. 20 Bentley College in Northeast-10 Conference men’s soccer action at Penmen Field on the campus of Southern New Hampshire University tonight. The match was played at Southern New Hampshire due to unplayable field conditions at Franklin Pierce’s Crystal Field.

            Franklin Pierce, which entered the match having already clinched the No. 2 seed in the upcoming NE-10 Tournament, will host No. 7 Saint Anselm College (10-4-2, 7-4-2 NE-10) in a quarterfinal round matchup on Sunday at 2 p.m. Bentley (12-5-1, 8-4-1 NE-10) will be the No. 4 seed in the NE-10 Tournament and will host No. 5 Bryant College (9-6-1, 8-4-1 NE-10) on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Tonight, Bentley opened the scoring just 63-seconds into the match when senior Jeremiah Jacek (Scarborough, Maine/Scarborough) converted a free-kick from 20-yards out at the top of the penalty area with a shot to the lower left corner of the net. The foul was called after Franklin Pierce back Sean McCabe (Derry City, Northern Ireland) was called for a handball.

            Franklin Pierce drew even 3:46 into the second half when grad student Craig Stewart (Newcastle, England) headed in a serve from freshman Kevin Dailey (North Attleboro, Mass./North Attleboro) at the near post.

            The goal snapped the Falcons shutout streak at 440:43 dating back to a 1-1 draw with Saint Anselm on October 11.

            Bentley regained the lead in the 63^rd minute as sophomore Mike Purpura (Framingham, Mass./Framingham) took a pass from senior Adam Hughes (Bedford, N.H./Trinity) and took two dribbles across the top of the box before firing a shot into the lower right side of the net.            

The Ravens equalized again less than eight minutes later when sophomore Lars Bakker (Enschede, The Netherlands) converted a free-kick of his own from 21-yards out which he placed into the lower left side at 70:19.

            Franklin Pierce got the winner with 5:07 left in regulation when Bakker and junior Mark Jansen (Enschede, The Netherlands) worked a give and go that allowed Jansen to curl in a cross from the left flank that classmate Kenneth Reid (Sarpsborg, Norway) headed in at the near post.

            Franklin Pierce out-shot Bentley by a 15-9 margin for the match, including 10-3 in the second half.

            Bentley senior goalkeeper Matt Parsons (Exeter, N.H./Exeter) registered five saves in net, while Franklin Pierce senior Domenico Roma (Windsor, Ontario/Ste. Annes) made one stop.

MATCH STATISTICS