RINDGE, N.H. (November 22, 2019) – The no. 18 nationally-ranked Franklin Pierce University men's soccer program is back as they host an NCAA Division II Championship Tournament game for the first time since 2011 as they battle no. 8 nationally-ranked Wilmington (Del.) University in the Super Regional 1 – Second Round on Sodexo Field, Saturday, November 23rd at 6:00 p.m.

The last time the Ravens hosted a regional game was a 5-0 victory against Saint Thomas Aquinas College on November 12, 2011. They eventually went on to lose 1-0 in the National Semifinals to Lynn University that year. Pierce last appeared in the big dance on November 10, 2016 when they suffered a 3-2 overtime loss to Merrimack College in the NCAA Championship First Round.

Franklin Pierce makes its 20th appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament. Overall, FPU is 15-18-1 in the NCAA Tournament, however that mark is 12-8-3 since 2005. They fair a lot better at home (9-3-2) than on the road (1-10-1) in the tournament while they are 3-3-2 during second-round play. Franklin Pierce has never met Wilmington (Del.) in the NCAA Tournament. Pierce is still in search of their second Division II National Championship, a feat they last accomplished in 2007.

For Wilmington, this marks the second consecutive year that they have appeared in the Regional and it marks the fifth time in program history that the Wildcats have made the tourney, all five of their tournament berths have been via at-large bids. Overall, they are 3-4-0 in the NCAA Tournament with their last win coming against Northeast-10 Conference program Le Moyne College 4-1 in 2018.

SCOUTING THE RAVENS

The Ravens earned an at-large bid and the no. 4 seed in the Super Region 1 after finishing head coach Ruben Resendes first year as coach with a 13-3-2, 10-2-0 NE10 record including an undefeated 9-0-1 on their home pitch.

FPU finished the month of September 4-1-1 before falling to Le Moyne College 2-0 on the road. They responded with their first four game-winning streak of the season scoring 14 goals and allowing only one over that stretch. They then lost to Bentley University 2-1, their first setback to the Falcons since 2013, but they responded claiming the next five matches (15 goals for, two goals against) including a dominant upset against no. 2 nationally-ranked Adelphi University and a 5-1 drubbing of Bentley in the NE10 Quarterfinal Round. FPU tied the College of Saint Rose in the NE10 Semifinal round and lost in the shootout 5-4 ending their run in the conference tournament.

Pierce has one of the most dominant defensive units in the nation, led by 2019 NCAA Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CAA) All-East Region First Team and Northeast-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year Carlos Ferrando Felis (Tavernes de la Valldigna, Spain). They have nine shutout victories on the season and have allowed only 12 goals all year with seven coming in conference play. They have allowed an average of (0.65) goals per game which ranks them 10th in Division II out of 212 programs.

On offense, graduate student Stefan Lohberger (Schoellnach, Germany) an All-Conference First Team, member, who ranks third in the conference in shots (60), tied for third in goals (9), tied for fifth in points (20) and sixth in shots on goal (26) leads the Ravens. He also comes in at 10th in all of NCAA Division II in shots per game (4.00). Also on the offensive side, D2CAA All-East Region Second Team member and All-NE10 First Team honoree, team captain Niklas Laudahn (Olfen, Germany) also contributes for the crimson and grey with one goal and he has racked up a new personal-high in assists (5) while tying his single-season career-best in points (7).

The goalkeeper tandem of senior Jadel Poon-Lewis (Diego Martin, Trinidad, and Tobago) and graduate student Clay Thomas (Franklin, Tenn.) coupled with their suffocating backline has been key to their success defensively. Poon-Lewis easily set a new career-low in goals allowed (2) and goals-against average (0.31) as he is atop the conference leaderboard in both categories. He also is tied for second in shutouts (4) with Thomas. Thomas, a transfer from the University of Vermont (3rd all-time in GAA. 0.77), and an NE10 All-Conference Third Team choice picked up right where he left off with the Catamounts ranking second behind his teammate in goals-against average (0.77) and third in goals allowed (9).

As a team, the Ravens scoring offense ranks 21st (2.33 goals/gm) in Division II while they contribute the 11th most shots per game (16.94) and the 12th most shots on goal (7.83).

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS

The Wildcats enter the tournament as the no. 5 seed in the first Super Region after completing the 2019 slate, head coach Nick Papanicolas' 16th season at 17-2-1, 10-1-1 CACC. They finished first in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Regular Season earning the top seed in the conference dance for the second year in a row. They faced off with no. 8 Concordia College in the Quarterfinals upending them 7-4 at home. Before losing in the CACC Semifinals 4-2 to Georgian Court University, a team they absolutely smoked 8-1 earlier in the season, the Wildcats had a 10 match unbeaten streak (9-0-1) with 56 goals for and 15 goals against (five shutouts).

Wilmington (Del.) is led by D2CAA East Region Player of the Year and CACC Player of the Year, redshirt junior forward Lorne Bickley. Bickley paces the nation and the CACC in goals (26) along with goals per game (1.30), points (54) and points per game (2.70). Teammate Shaun Genus is third in all of Division II in assists with 12 as Fredrik Bentdal is deadlocked to fifth with 11 helpers of his own.

On the defensive side, Joe Bell was chosen as the CACC Defensive Player of the Year and netminder Gabriel Prgomet earned Goalkeeper of the Year honors. Prgomet allowed only 1.09 goals against and 22 total goals over the course of the year.

As a team, Wilmington (Del.) is the national leader in corner kicks per game (7.55), scoring offense (4.55 goals/gm), total goals (91), assists per game (3.80), points per game (12.9),  total assists (76), total points (258), shots per game (19.65) and shots on goal per game (10.1).

MATCHUP HISTORY

Head-to-head, this will mark the fourth time these two programs have met. The last meeting between these squads was 2013 which resulted in a 2-1 double-overtime victory for Wilmington (Del.). Overall, the Ravens lead the series at 2-1-0.

HEADING TO THE GAME?

If you are planning on heading to the game here are the directions to Sodexo Field.

You will be required to pay a small gate fee to enter Sodexo Field. The prices are…

Adults…..$8.00

Children & Seniors…..$5.00

College Students w/Identification…..$3.00

Children under two-years-old will be admitted free of charge.

*THE FIRST 150 FPU STUDENTS WHO ATTEND WILL RECEIVE FREE ADMISSION THANKS TO THE FRANKLIN PIERCE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT*

WHERE TO WATCH

Can't make it to the game? FPU has you covered with live stats and free video. Click the links below to access the live stats and video.

LIVE STATS | VIDEO

You can also view the championship central page by clicking here.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The winner of this contest will advance to play in the Third Round hosted by the top advancing seed in Super Region 1 either December 5th or 6th.

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/).