Franklin Pierce Athletics Geared up for Busy Opening Weekend

RINDGE, N.H. (September 4, 2019) – The 2019-20 athletic season is just one sleep away, with NCAA Division II action set to start on fields across the country on Thursday, Sept. 5. The Franklin Pierce University Department of Athletics is geared up for its own jam-packed opening weekend, which will see games on Sodexo Field Thursday through Sunday, giving fans plenty of opportunities to come out and catch the Ravens in action.

The highlight of the weekend is the University’s initial foray into NCAA football, as the Ravens set out on their inaugural Division II season. Franklin Pierce will welcome Division III member Wesley College to Sodexo Field for a noon kickoff on Saturday. The Department of Athletics has a full slate of entertainment lined up in conjunction with the game, and Raven Nation is eager to set the bar high with its college football game day experience. For full game day information, including ticket and tailgate info, parking info, frequently asked questions, etc., please visit our Football Game Day Information page at the following link: https://spark.adobe.com/page/XalQMhuhLGdV0/

The centerpiece of the new game day experience will be the Raven Row tailgating area. Located in the upper DiGregorio parking lot, Raven Row will consist of a row of tailgate tents overlooking Sodexo Field from atop the hill behind the North end zone. Raven Row will provide a dedicated area for fans to engage in the tradition of college football tailgating, mingle with friends and family, and still have a premier view of the game. Both Dr. Kim Mooney ’83, President of Franklin Pierce University, and the family of head football coach Russell Gaskamp will have tents on Raven Row, and are set to interact with the community throughout the season. For more information on tailgating, please visit the following page: https://spark.adobe.com/page/0xJbX1A3Ukkjk/

Speaking of Gaskamp, the Ravens’ coach has lent his name to another exciting aspect of the Franklin Pierce game day experience: the GAS Station. Located at the East end of Raven Row, the GAS Station is the tailgate area’s beer garden, presented by Sodexo. The GAS Station is for fans 21-and-over only, will open for beer sales 60 minutes prior to kickoff and will close during the third quarter. No outside alcohol will be permitted at Sodexo Field. For more information on the GAS Station, please visit the following page: https://spark.adobe.com/page/aASCe6szdwo9I/

Saturday’s football game is just one aspect of an opening weekend for the Department of Athletics which features six home games across four days, all at Sodexo Field. Things will open up with an exciting doubleheader on Thursday, featuring non-conference action for the men’s soccer and field hockey programs. The men’s soccer game will be the Franklin Pierce debut for head coach Ruben Resendes, who will lead his revamped squad against Felician at 4 p.m. The Ravens were picked to finish fourth in the Northeast-10 Conference this fall. Meanwhile, the field hockey squad will jump right into the deep end, as head coach Zoe Adkins’ squad squares off with last year’s NE10 runner-up and No. 6 nationally ranked Saint Anselm in its season opener at 7 p.m.

There is just one game on the docket for Friday afternoon at Sodexo Field, but it sees the season debut for head coach Jonathan Garbar’s women’s soccer team, which will take its first step towards defending its 2018 NE10 crown. Picked as favorites in the league, the Ravens will open with a non-conference tilt against Nyack at 4 p.m.

Field hockey is back on Sodexo Field on Saturday, following the football season opener. The Ravens will square off with fellow NE10 member Bentley -- though in a non-conference contest -- for a 5 p.m. start. The busy opening weekend wraps up on Sunday afternoon, as men’s soccer returns to action for its second non-conference matchup of the weekend, as the Ravens play host to Bridgeport at 4 p.m.

Off campus for opening weekend, the men’s golf team will host its annual fall tournament at Keene Country Club on Sunday and Monday. Meanwhile, women’s golf hits the road for a tournament at Saint Rose, also on Sunday and Monday. Also in tournament action this weekend, Ravens volleyball is on Long Island for four matches over two days on Saturday and Sunday. The cross country teams will be in Connecticut for a Saturday meet hosted by Trinity, while women’s tennis opens its season on Sunday afternoon at Adelphi.

For a composite schedule of all Franklin Pierce Athletics events, which is updated throughout the year, please visit the following link: https://www.fpuravens.com/composite

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (https://www.fpuravens.com). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics’ official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics’ online store (http://www.shopfpuravens.com).