Ravens Open Season

RINDGE, N.H. (Aug. 31, 2000) - A new era for the Franklin Pierce men's soccer team begins Friday when the Ravens make their debut under first-year Coach Marco Koolman in the Fleet Classic being held in Worcester, Mass.

The Ravens, who are not ranked nationally for the first time since 1990, play 25th-ranked Dowling College at 2 p.m. in the first round of the two-day tournament that is being hosted by Assumption College. They play 22nd-ranked Mercyhurst College at noon Sunday. Both games are non-conference matches

The Ravens make their debut in the Northeast-10 Conference on Saturday, Sept. 16 when they host Stonehill College. Franklin Pierce was ranked third in NE-10 men's soccer poll that was released Tuesday.

The Ravens were dealt a blow Tuesday when it was learned that junior co-captain David McDermott (Merseyside, England) will not be with the team this weekend.

McDermott left the team to return home to join his family in the wake of the death of his father.

"We're deeply saddened,'' first-year Franklin Pierce Coach Marco Koolman said.  "Obviously, we will miss David, but right now our thoughts are with him and his family.''

The first home games for Franklin Pierce athletic teams are Sunday when the women's soccer team hosts Dominican at 1 p.m., and the women's tennis team plays Dowling at 11 a.m.

The rest of Franklin Pierce's teams begin later in the month of September.