Saint Michael's Men Knock Off Eighth Ranked Franklin Pierce

COLCHESTER, VT -- Junior Dustin Hess (Mount Mansfield HS/Jericho, VT) scored the game-winning goal with 41 seconds left in regulation, as Saint Michael's posted one of the biggest wins in the history of the program, knocking off nationally eighth ranked Franklin Pierce, 2-1 on the Doc Jacobs Field Thursday afternoon.

Hess deflected the ball in the net on a long throw in from senior Mike Toohey (Oxford Hills/Harrison, ME).

Both Saint Michael's goals were scored off of long throws.

Trailing 1-0 in the 81^st minute, Saint Michael's netted the equalizer on a scramble resulting from a long throw by junior Ryan Coyne (Fairfield Prep/Trumbull, CT).

Coyne's long throw was kicked around in the box before bouncing free to senior Matt Mularski (Xavier/Chester, CT), who fired a hard shot from the top of the 18 yard box.  Mularski's shot deflected off of a defender, where sophomore Mike Nicosia (Gloversville /Gloversville, NY) ran onto the ball and found the left side of the net for a 1-1 tie.

Coyne, who is suffering from a foot injury, and cannot run, was substituted into the game by Saint Michael's College coach Tim Kaleita specifically to make the throw.

The Purple Knights tried to get Coyne in for the throw on the game winner, but he was slow to report to the table and the substitution was not allowed by the referee.

Toohey took the throw, which resulted in the goal.

"I'm happy that we were finally able to stay focused during the last few minutes of the game," said Kaleita, whose team has been snakebitten by allowing late goals several times this year.  "We were very focused on defending in the final few minutes, and we got some luck that we haven't had and capitalized on the scoring chance."

Franklin Pierce had taken a 1-0 lead in the 48^th minute when Felix Brillant (Brossard, Quebec) played a ball over the top from 45 yards out that Tate Travis (Detroit, MI)  ran onto and beat SMC freshman goalkeeper Anthony Handy (Plymouth North/Plymouth, MA) for the goal.

Handy came up with eight saves to help thwart the Ravens, who out shot the Purple Knights 15-8 in the contest.

Saint Michael's improves to 6-6-1 on the season, 3-6-1 in the NE-10.  The Ravens, who entered the game ranked eighth in the nation in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division II poll, fall to 9-3 on the season, 6-2 in the NE-10.

--Compliments Saint Michael's Sports Information

Scoring Summary

Corner Kicks: Franklin Pierce 2, SMC 1
Shots: Franklin Pierce 15, SMC 8