WALTHAM, Mass.  (October 19, 2019) – It was too little, too late for the Franklin Pierce University men's soccer team on Saturday afternoon against Northeast-10 Conference opponent Bentley University. An 89th minute goal from senior Niklas Laudahn (Olfen, Germany) cut the Bentley lead in half, but the Falcons would hang on for the 2-1 win. 

The match featured two of the NE10's best with the Falcons improving to 8-3 (6-1 NE10) leapfrogging them over the Ravens for second place in the conference. The Ravens fall to 8-3-1 (6-2 in NE10). 

The Ravens came into this road contest on a roll. Winners of their last four, Franklin Pierce had outscored opponents 14-1, but Falcons' keeper Nick Maldarella stood tall in goal. He would get an early lead to work with as the Falcons struck first at the 13th minute. Matthew Tidona buried a cross from Colby Gould as the Falcons countered down the field. Tidona's second goal of the year gave Bentley a 1-0 lead. 

The Ravens nearly responded with a quick goal as junior forward Antonio Ferreira (Madrid, Spain) fired a shot that caught the goal post. Ferreira was the most active offensive player for the Ravens during the match recording seven total shots while landing three on goal. Despite his and the effort of fellow Spaniard Javier García Borrás (Alzira, Spain) who had four attempts of his own the Ravens couldn't solve the Bentley keeper.  

The Falcons would tack on an insurance marker when Kyle Archambault dribbled his way through the Ravens line setting up Julian Stewart with a crisp centering pass. Stewart's close range shot beat Ravens' keeper Clay Thomas (Franklin, Tenn.) to give Bentley a 2-0 lead at the 79th minute. For Stewart, it was his sixth goal of the season. 

The Ravens continued to press into the final ten minutes and would ultimately bury one as Laudahn headed in a cross from fellow german Yannik Felber (Vallendar, Germany) past Maldarella. Laudahn's first of the season came on Pierce's seventh shot on goal at the 89th minute.  

Thomas stopped three of five shots in goal for Pierce and suffered the loss (5-3-2). Maldarella was nearly perfect but managed to hold a hot Ravens' offense to a single goal. He picked up the win stopping six of seven shots (8-3-0). 

The Ravens return home on Wednesday, October 23rd as they play host to New Haven. Match time against the Chargers is set for 7:00 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/).