Neuman and Goncalves earn NSCAA East Region Second-Team honors

RINDGE, N.H. (December 15, 2009) – Franklin Pierce University men’s soccer standout Frantz Francois (West Palm Beach, Fla.) was recently named a 2009 National Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA) Third-Team All-American, while senior back Kevin Neumen (Miller Place, N.Y.) and sophomore midfielder Victor Goncalves (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) were named to the 2009 NSCAA East Region Second-Team. Francois was also named to the All-East Region First-Team which enabled him for consideration for the All-America squad.

A graduate midfielder, Francois earned his second All-America honor this season as he was also named a Second-Team All-American by Daktronics earlier this month.

He led the team in goals (10) and points (22) this past season, and each of those totals also ranked among the top-10 in the Northeast-10. Three of Francois’ 10 goals went as game-winners during the campaign. In addition to the awards listed above, Francois earned a pair of other post-season awards, including being named to the Northeast-10 Conference, and Daktronics, Inc. All-East Region, First-Teams last month.

In his only season with Franklin Pierce, Neumen helped anchor a defense which produced 10 shutouts and allowed an average of just 0.82 goals a match.

Neumen also earned his share of post-season awards this year, including: 2009 Daktronics Second-Team All-American; 2009 Daktronics, Inc. First-Team All-East Region; and 2009 Northeast-10 First-Team.

Goncalves’ NSCAA recognition was his third post-season honor as he was also named to the Northeast-10 First-Team and Daktronics, Inc. Second-Team All-East Region last month. He registered six goals (one game-winner) and three assists for 15 points, as he ranked second on the team in goals scored during the season.

The three players helped Franklin Pierce earn the program’s seventh-consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament this past season. The fifth-seeded Ravens downed No. 4-seed Dominican, 2-1, in the first round, before dropping a close 1-0 decision to No. 1-seed Le Moyne in the second round.

Franklin Pierce, which was ranked 25th nationally in the NSCAA/adidas Top-25 poll at the time of their final contest, put together a strong 13-5-3 record in 2009 under first-year head coach Craig Stewart.

For more information on Franklin Pierce men’s soccer, please visit the team’s page at athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.)