Offense Leads the Way as Ravens Roll Over Assumption

RINDGE, N.H.  (October 5, 2019) – A pair of goals in the opening 15 minutes would set the tone as the Franklin Pierce University men's soccer team rolled to a 4-0 win over Northeast-10 Conference opponent Assumption College Saturday evening on Sodexo Field. With the win, the Ravens improve to 5-2-1, 3-1 NE10 while the Greyhounds fall to 6-3, 4-2 NE10.

The Ravens would strike first in the 10th minute when graduate midfielder Javier García Borrás (Alzira, Spain) scored his second of the season off a free-kick from the top of the box. Borras managed to beat Assumption keeper Sebastian Jimenez to the left post giving the Ravens an early lead. 

The offense found its rhythm striking five minutes later when senior midfielder Marc Forner (Silla, Spain) set up junior forward Antonio Ferreira (Madrid, Spain) for his second of the season. Forner's centering feed connected perfectly with Ferreira who blew a shot past Jimenez, doubling the Ravens lead early.  

Things would proceed to get testy between the two sides. Assumption's Jeremy Martin was assessed a yellow card followed shortly by a straight red to senior Alex Moschella. Three more yellow cards would follow before the first half concluded as the two sides racked up five combined cards.  

Already short a player the Greyhounds Brian Flynn would be sent off with a red card at the 58th minute. Dropping two bodies didn't make things easier for the Greyhounds who only mustered two shots the whole match.

Graduate keeper Clay Thomas (Franklin, Tenn.) and sophomore Paul Zumbo (Northford, Conn.) combined for the clean sheet without having to make a save. Thomas would pick up the win to improve to 4-2-1. 

The Ravens took advantage of a shorthanded Greyhounds side. Graduate forward Stefan Lohberger (Schoellnach, Germany) came off the bench and scored twice in a two-minute span to increase the Ravens lead to 4-0. Lohberger's first goal came off a feed from team captain Niklas Laudahn (Olfen, Germany) as he chipped a shot past Jimenez. Then in transition, sophomore midfielder Yanai Sayag (Yuvalim, Israel) fed Lohberger with a beautiful through ball. He was able to tuck the ball past Jimenez at the far post for his second of the match. 

The onslaught of goals and cards would see both teams make a hoard of substitutions. Four Ravens received yellow cards, while five Greyhounds were issued cards on the day. Jimenez (5-3) suffered the loss in goal for Assumption stopping six of ten shots; he was relieved in the 78th minute. 

The Ravens will pick things back up on the road at Saint Anselm on Wednesday, October 9th. Match time from Manchester is set for 4:00 p.m. 

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://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 (https://shopfpuravens.com). You can also follow the men's soccer team on Twitter (https://twitter.com/fpumsoccer), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/fpumsoccer/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/fpumsoccer/).