PREVIEW: Men’s Soccer Hosts Semifinals Game For First Time Since 2011
RINDGE, N.H. (November 12, 2019) – Following a 5-1 win over Bentley University in the Northeast-10 Conference Quarterfinals, the nationally-ranked Franklin Pierce University men's soccer team will host the College of Saint Rose in the programs first home Semifinals match since 2011 Wednesday, November 13th at 4:00 p.m. on Sodexo Field.
Pierce returns to the Semis for the first time since their 2016 2-0 setback to Adelphi University on Long Island. FPU is 3-6-4 in the Semifinal round since 2000 with their last victory coming on Friday, November 4, 2011, a 2-0 win against Le Moyne College. Overall, the Ravens are 21-17 (.552) in the conference tournament with three league title victories (2006, 2010, 2011) with the last coming in 2011.
This marks only the fourth year that Saint Rose had made the conference dance since they joined the league in 2000. The Golden Knights will make their first appearance in the Semifinals after advancing on penalty kicks this past weekend. Overall, Saint Rose is 0-3-1 (.125) in the conference tournament.
Since the two teams started meeting in 2000, the crimson and grey hold an 18-2-0 record against the black and yellow. At home, the Ravens are 10-1-0 versus Saint Rose with their only defeat to their opponents at home coming on Saturday, October 24, 2015. After starting off their series with 15 straight wins, Pierce has gone only 2-3-0 over the past four years versus Saint Rose.
SCOUTING THE RAVENS
The Ravens earned the no. 2 seed in the tourney and finished head coach Ruben Resendes first year at the helm with a 12-3-1, 10-2-0 NE10 record including an unblemished 9-0-0 mark on their home pitch. They also had eight players who were honored by the NE10 with yearly awards.
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.
Pierce has one of the most dominant defensive units in the conference, led by Northeast-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year and NE10 First Team back Carlos Ferrando Felis (Tavernes de la Valldigna, Spain). They have nine shutout victories on the season and have allowed only 11 goals all season, seven coming in conference play which all pace the NE10. They have allowed an average of (0.64) goals per game and the number dips to (0.58) in league play. Their goals-against average of 0.64 ranks them 12th in Division II out of 212 programs.
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. He also is tied for first in shutouts (4) with Thomas for the conference lead. Thomas, a transfer from the University of Vermont (3rd all-time in GAA. 0.77), and a 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 (8).
On offense, graduate student Stefan Lohberger (Schoellnach, Germany) an All-Conference First Team, member, who ranks third in the conference in shots (59), tied for third in goals (9), fourth in shots on goal (25) and tied for fifth in points (20) leads the Ravens. He also comes in at seventh in all of NCAA Division II in shots per game (4.21). As a team, Pierce ranks first in the conference in assists (36), second in shots (280), second in shots per game (16.5), second in points (118), third in goals (41) and third in goals per game (2.41). Their scoring offense ranks 17th (2.41 goals/gm) in Division II out of 212 ranked programs.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
The Golden Knights enter the tournament as the no. 6 seed after completing the 2019 regular season 10-5-3, 6-4-2 NE10. Over their last five games, the Golden Knights are 2-1-2 with their last tie a 0-0 decision over no. 3 seed Southern New Hampshire University. Saint Rose advanced to their first-ever NE10 Semifinal match after winning via penalty kicks when defender Andrew Lule buried the game-winner.
Saint Rose is led by NE10 Co-Rookie of the Year Hilmar Halldorsson, who was also a Second Team All-NE10 athlete. Halldorsson carries his team on offense with nine goals, one assist and 19 points. His nine markers tie him with Lohberger for third in the league while his 19 points are the seventh-most in the conference. Ryan Henning is the goalie of choice for the Golden Knights as he's started 13 games going 8-4-1 with one shutout, a 1.27 goals-against average and 56 saves.
The visitors rank in the middle of the pack in most offensive categories in the league. They are seventh in goals (27), eighth in assists (19), eighth in points (73), eighth in shots per game (13.4) and ninth in goals for a game (1.59). However, on the defensive side they are second behind the Ravens in goals-against average (1.13), goals allowed (20) and rank 10th in saves (61).
EARLIER THIS SEASON
Both squads met earlier this year on Saturday, September 28th as the Ravens hosted their counterparts and shutout them 2-0. Two-time NE10 Player of the Week Yannik Felber (Vallendar, Germany) and All-Conference Second Team honoree Javier García Borrás (Alzira, Spain) each scored a goal while Thomas notched his second shutout and moved to 3-1-1 on the season.
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…..$6.00
Children, Students & Seniors…..$4.00
NE10 Conference Students w/Identification…..$1.00
*THE FIRST 100 FPU STUDENTS WHO ATTEND WILL RECEIVE FREE ADMISSION*
*THERE WILL ALSO BE FREE HOT CHOCOLATE AND HOT APPLE CIDER THANKS TO SODEXO AND THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE*
WHERE TO WATCH
Can't make it to the game? The NE10 and FPU have you covered with live stats and free video. Click the links below to access the live stats and video.
You can also view the NE10 2019 Men's Soccer Championship page by clicking here.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The winner of this contest will square off against the victor of the no. 8 American International College/no. 5 Assumption College match Saturday for the Northeast-10 Conference Championship at the higher-seeded team's home field.
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/).