#3 Franklin Pierce 
Drops Bentley, 2-0
Lima plays role in both goals for first points
as a Raven, Thorpe posts shutout

Click here for photo highlights courtesy of Richard Orr Sports Photography

WALTHAM, Mass. (September 20, 2006) – Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 3 in this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, scored two second half goals for a 2-0 victory at Bentley College, in Northeast-10 Conference men’s soccer action this afternoon.

            Junior midfielder Mike Lima (Ludlow, Mass./Ludlow), a transfer from Elms College, played a role in both Franklin Pierce goals with a goal and assist for his first points as a Raven. Junior All-America goalkeeper James Thorpe (East Longmeadow, Mass./Bridgton Academy) made three saves to preserve his sixth shutout of the season and fourth in a row. The clean sheet was also the 31^st of his career, setting a new school record – regardless of gender, surpassing former women’s standout Melissa Robles who totaled 30 shutouts from 1992-95.            

Franklin Pierce, unbeaten in its first eight matches, has yet to allow a goal in four Northeast-10 Conference contests. The Ravens have not yielded a goal in their last 416:12, including all 380 minutes of NE-10 action.

            Franklin Pierce broke the stalemate in the 66^th minute when Lima fired a shot from the left side that glanced off Bentley junior goalkeeper Derek Dubois’ (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) hand and off the post before settling over the goal line.

            Lima helped the Ravens add an insurance goal late when he connected with sophomore Marek Hawrylik (Olsztyn, Poland) in the 89^th minute. Hawrylik blasted in his second marker of the season.

            Dubois finished with four saves for Bentley, which was out-shot by Franklin Pierce, 11-6. The Ravens nearly netted the opening goal late in the first half, but a Cole Larned (Wilton, Conn./Wilton) free kick was cleared off the line by the Falcons defense.

            Franklin Pierce (7-0-1, 3-0-1 NE-10) returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Bryant University, ranked sixth in the New England region, at 7 p.m. Bentley (4-4-1, 1-3-1 NE-10) hosts the College of Saint Rose on Saturday at 4 p.m.

MATCH STATISTICS & PLAY-BY-PLAY