Franklin Pierce Blanks 
American International, 4-0
Ravens post program-record 11^th shutout 
of the season

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 23 2004) – Franklin Pierce, ranked fourth in the New England Region, collected its program-record 11^th shutout of the season with a 4-0 victory at American International College in Northeast-10 Conference men’s soccer action at AIC Park today.

            The Ravens collected their 11^th shutout of the season, surpassing the program record of ten, set by Franklin Pierce’s 1991 squad that reached the Division II Final Four. Freshman goalkeeper James Thorpe (East Longmeadow, Mass./Bridgton Academy) posted four saves in 78 minutes of action, while sophomore Joseph Luginsland (Ledyard, Conn./Ledyard) did not face a shot over the final 12 minutes.            

Grad student Christopher Joyce (Jarrow, England) paced the Franklin Pierce attack with a pair of goals, while Craig Stewart (Newcastle Upon Tyne, England) added a goal and assist. The Ravens also got a goal from sophomore Jason Grier (Norwell, Mass./Norwell).

            Franklin Pierce scored the lone goal of the opening stanza just 4:54 before the intermission as grad student Tom McNeil (Paisley, Scotland) spotted Joyce for his first goal of the match.

            The Ravens doubled their lead 5:55 into the second half as grad student Simon Walker (Jarrow, England) connected with Stewart. Stewart then set up Grier’s goal in the 60^th minute before Joyce completed his double in the 75^th minute, assisted by senior Kyle Miller (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy).

            Senior Phil Torres (Woonsocket, R.I./CCRI) posted five saves in 75 minutes in goal for American International, while freshman Matt Marcoux (Blackstone, Mass./Blackstone-Millville) stopped three shots over the final 15 minutes without yielding a goal.

            Franklin Pierce (12-5, 9-3 NE-10) rounds out the regular season with a key Conference battle at Bentley College on Tuesday at 3 p.m. American International (8-7-1, 6-6-0 NE-10) hosts Southern New Hampshire University on Tuesday at 2 p.m.