#3 Franklin Pierce Rallies 
Past Bryant, 2-1
Guimaraes double erases Ravens deficit 
to remain unbeaten through nine

RINDGE, N.H. (September 23, 2006) – Franklin Pierce, ranked No. 3 in this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Division II poll, rallied from a goal down to defeat Bryant University, ranked sixth in the New England region, 2-1 in Northeast-10 Conference men’s soccer action at Sodexho Field tonight.

            Sophomore midfielder Raphael Guimaraes (Marlborough, Mass./Ashland) scored both Franklin Pierce goals and classmate Marek Hawrylik (Olsztyn, Poland/The Winchendon (Mass.) School) dished two assists.

            Franklin Pierce, unbeaten through its first nine matches for the first time since opening the 1999 season with a 7-0-2 clip, were forced to come back from a goal down for the second time this season to do so. Bryant opened the scoring in the 36^th minute when senior Sam Grande (Herkimer, N.Y./Herkimer) headed in a free kick by classmate Patrick Doherty (Easton, Mass./Oliver Ames) at the far post for his first goal of the season.            

The goal was the first conceded by Franklin Pierce in five NE-10 matches this season, ending a Conference shutout streak of 415:30 to open the season. Bryant’s marker also snapped a shutout streak of 451:42 dating back to the Ravens 3-2 victory over Nyack College on September 2.

            Franklin Pierce netted the equalizer in dramatic fashion as Hawrylik found junior Mike Lima (Ludlow, Mass./Ludlow) open on the left flank. Lima connected with Guimaraes for a wide open side-footed shot inside the six with just seven-seconds on the clock before halftime. Guimaraes added the winner in similar fashion just 8:16 into the second half off a sharp cross from the left side by Hawrylik.

            Junior All-America goalkeeper James Thorpe (East Longmeadow, Mass./Bridgton Academy) made four saves for Franklin Pierce to preserve the victory. Bryant junior Thomas Madden (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) finished with one stop as the Bulldogs posted an 11-9 advantage in shots in the tightly contested match.

            Franklin Pierce (8-0-1, 4-0-1 NE-10) returns to action on Wednesday when it hosts 24^th-ranked Southern New Hampshire University in a key Northeast-10 clash at 7 p.m. Bryant (5-2-2, 3-2-2 NE-10) travels to Saint Anselm College on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

MATCH STATISTICS & PLAY-BY-PLAY