Ferreira collects a team-high seven points to lead Ravens to first victory

PORTLAND, MAINE (March 23, 2007) - The Franklin Pierce men's lacrosse team earned a decisive 19-10 victory over the University of Southern Maine this afternoon at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

Franklin Pierce used a balanced offensive attack as nine different players registered goals. Junior Luke Ferreira (Farmington, Maine/Mt. Blue) led all scorers with a game-high seven points on four goals and three assists. Senior Mike Willis (Hingham, Mass./Hingham) was also solid with four goals and one assist, while freshman Brendan Rooney (Newton, Mass./Newton North) and sophomore Ryan Boller (New Cannan, Conn./New Cannan) collected five points each, posting three goals and two assists apiece.

Freshman Dan Jackson (Orlando, Fla./South Kent) led the Southern Maine attack with a team-high six goals. Senior Zach Fermanis (Gorham, Maine/North Yarmouth Academy) added three points on two goals and one assist, while sophomore Matt Manson (Leeds, Maine/Saint Dominic) and classmate Tyler Mayberry (North Yarmouth, Maine/Greely) chipped in with one goal and one assist apiece.

Franklin Pierce opened the scoring early in the first period as sophomore Kyle Kruse (Bourne, Mass./Bourne) netted his second goal of the season just 1:48 into the period. Classmate Brendan Rooney followed with his first goal of the game just 3:59 later to give the Ravens an early 2-0 advantage. After Souther Maine knotted the score at 3-3 on a Zach Fermanis score, Franklin Pierce recorded two unanswered goals to take a 5-3 lead into the second period.

In the second period, Franklin Pierce increased its lead to three on goals by senior Nick Cowden (Marblehead, Mass./Marblehead), Luke Ferreira, and Ryan Boller. Cowden started the scoring for the Ravens with his first goal of the season just 2:02 into the period. Ferreira followed with his second score of the game at the 8:08 mark, while Boller netted two goals to cap the Raven rally.

Franklin Pierce registered four more goals in the third period to take a 13-8 advantage. Southern Maine opened the scoring with two quick goals by Mayberry and Fermanis, but Franklin Pierce responded with four unanswered goals to close out the period. Willis led the Raven charge with three goals in the frame, while sophomore Jason Flanigan (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) chipped in with one.

In the final stanza, Franklin Pierce out-scored Southern Maine 6-2 and preserved its first victory of the season. The Ravens opened the period with four consecutive goals by Ferreira, Rooney and Willis, before adding two more scores in the final three minutes of regulation.

Franklin Pierce out-shot Southern Maine 46 to 38 throughout the contest. Senior goaltender Ben Lek (Gaithersburg, Md./Col Zadok Magruder) made 17 saves for the Ravens, while sophomore goaltender James Suriyodorn (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park) totaled 14 stops for Southern Maine.

Franklin Pierce (1-1, 0-0 NE-10) will be in action again on Sunday as it hosts NCAA Division II National Champions Le Moyne College at 12 p.m. Southern Maine
(0-1, 0-0 LEC) will travel to Bates College on Monday at 4 p.m.

Franklin Pierce 19, Southern Maine 10

Franklin Pierce Scoring:
Goals: Luke Ferreira (4); Mike Willis (4); Ryan Boller (3); Brendan Rooney (3); Lucas Hamory (1); Nick Cowden (1); Kyle Kruse (1); Jason Flanigan (1); Rob Frankel (1);
Assists: Ferreira (3); Boller (2); Rooney (2); Willis (1); Hamory (1); Cowden (1); Patrick Colburn (1); Kruse (1); Russell Hodson (1); Chris George (1); Matt Sampson (1);

Southern Maine Scoring:
Goals: Dan Jackson (6); Zach Fermanis (2); Tyler Mayberry (1); Matt Manson (1);
Assists: Jeff Donovan (1); Fermanis (1); Lee Gauthier (1); Manson (1); Mayberry (1); Josh Reinhold (1)

Goaltending:
USM: James Suriyodorn (60:00), 14 saves.
FP: Ben Lek (60:00), 17 saves.

 GAME STATISTICS AND BOX SCORE