SMC Athletics PR -

PURPLE KNIGHT MEN LOSE AT FRANKLIN PIERCE, 6-0

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                               FOR MORE INFORMATION
October 15, 2005                                                                                Contact: Daniel O'Reilly
Courtesy Franklin Pierce Sports Information                                          Phone: (802) 654-2929

RINDGE, N.H. - Franklin Pierce, ranked fifth in this week’s National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas New England Regional poll, scored four goals in a nine-minute span midway through the first half to open a five-goal lead at the break en route to a 6-0 victory over Saint Michael’s College in Northeast-10 Conference men’s soccer action at Sodexho Field on Saturday afternoon.

All-America forward Christopher Joyce (Jarrow, England) totaled eight points with three goals and two assists to lead Franklin Pierce to a 5-0 halftime advantage. Junior Jason Grier (Norwell, Mass./Norwell) contributed a goal and two assists in the opening stanza, while freshman Raphael Guimaraes (Marlboro, Mass./Ashland) finished with a goal and assist.

In addition to his point total, Joyce scored two goals in a span of 14-seconds to help the Ravens open a three-goal lead, setting a program record for fastest consecutive goals by the same player. His two goal burst was just two-seconds shy of the fastest two goals in program history set by Stacha Kovacevic and Seamus Donnelly in a 5-0 victory over Keene State on October 18, 1995.

Grier opened the scoring when Joyce fed him for a chip from the right channel into the left side of the net from 12-yards out 12:22 into the match. Joyce opened a four-goal flurry over a span of 8:54 with his first goal when Guimaraes connected with Grier down the right side for a cross to the far post for Joyce’s shot from six-yards out at 24:51. Joyce then scored, off a pass from Grier, at 25:05 to complete the record-setting double.

Joyce spotted grad student Simon Walker (Jarrow, England) with a square ball for a blast from the top of the 18 and his second career goal at 32:11. Joyce rounded out his hat trick at 33:45 when freshman Marek Hawrylik (Osztyn, Poland) sent him in one-on-one with Saint Michael’s senior goalkeeper Patrick Melvin (Belmont, Vt./Black River). Joyce sidestepped Melvin and rolled a low-shot into the right side of the net for his first hat trick of the season (second career).

Franklin Pierce closed out the scoring in the 79^th minute when Guimaraes took a pass from freshman Tim Pacheco (Rehoboth, Mass./Dighton-Rehoboth) and fired a shot from the top of the 18.

Sophomores James Thorpe (East Longmeadow, Mass./Bridgton Academy) and Daniel Hansen (Worcester, Mass./St. Peter Marian) split the shutout, the Ravens seventh of the season, with Thorpe making a save in the first half and Hansen registering three saves over the final 45-minutes. Melvin finished with three stops in the first half for the Purple Knights, while sophomore Ed Fennessey (Wilton, Conn./Wilton) collected four saves in the second.

Franklin Pierce (8-4-3, 6-1-2 NE-10) is back in action on Wednesday when it hosts UMass Lowell in a key Conference and regional match up at 7 p.m. Saint Michael’s (5-9-1, 3-7-1 NE-10) hosts Middlebury College on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.

GAME SUMMARY
Saint Michael’s 0 0 - 0
Franklin Pierce 5 1 - 6

First Half: FPC, Grier (Joyce), 12:22. FPC, Joyce (Grier, Guimaraes), 24:51. FPC, Joyce (Grier), 25:05. FPC, Walker (Joyce), 32:11. FPC, Joyce (Hawrylik), 33:45.
Second Half: FPC, Guimaraes (Pacheco), 78:15.
Shots: SMC 5, FPC 21.
Corner Kicks: SMC 2, FPC 9.
Goalkeepers: SMC, Melvin (45:00), 3 saves; SMC, Fennessey (45:00), 4 saves; FPC, Thorpe (45:00), 1 save; FPC, Hansen (45:00), 3 saves.

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For more information please contact the SMC Sports Information Office at (802) 654-2537
Last Revised: October 25, 2002