RINDGE, N.H. - The College of Saint Rose held tight to host and nationally ranked Franklin Pierce for 89 minutes before the Ravens finally scored the game-winner to avoid falling for the first time all year.
Franklin Pierce (8-0-0/3-0-0 NE10), ranked #3 in the most recent United Soccer Coaches National Poll, entered the contest owning the nation's best goal differential at plus-22, having outscored their seven opponents 24-2.
The Ravens dictated the pace of play that led to a 26-7 shot differential, but a Saint Rose defense that had recorded four consecutive shutouts made them earn their eighth consecutive victory.
"The commitment, discipline and application of the game plan today against a great opponent was on another level. We will take a lot of positives from today's game in defeat as we ready for a quick turnaround on Tuesday," said Head Coach
Steve Wieczorek.
Franklin Pierce broke through at the 79:32 mark when graduate student midfielder Jonas Cervera Anchel drove home a shot from the top of the area that deflected off Golden Knights (4-2-1/1-1-1 NE10) sophomore keeper
Tomas Rozman and into the net.
However, Saint Rose kept its poise and leveled it five minutes later when junior back
Nick Koenig jumped on a loose ball and rifled a shot from 25-yards out that rattled the crossbar and deflected to the middle of the area where freshman back
Nils Annborn volleyed the rebound home for his first collegiate strike.
As it had been for most of the afternoon, the contest appeared headed to a deadlock until senior back Rodrigo Parafita delivered a cross from deep on the left wing to the far post where graduate student forward Miguel Angel Pastor Gutierrez headed in the game-winner with all of 88:42 gone by.
Overall, the Ravens generated a 9-3 shot-on-goal advantage and a 7-1 corner kick differential.
Rozman finished with a season-high seven saves for the Golden Knights, while senior Kostas Miniatas made both of his stops throughout the second half for Franklin Pierce.
Looking ahead, both sides have 4:00 pm Northeast-10 Conference road matches Tuesday. The Golden Knights travel to Manchester, N.H. to take on Saint Anselm, while the Ravens head to Syracuse to face Le Moyne.
Notes: The Golden Knights are unbeaten in five of their last six matches…They are ranked #7 In the East Region for the second consecutive week according to the latest United Soccer Coaches poll that was released on Tuesday…Senior keeper
Ryan Henning was named to the NE10 weekly honor roll Monday after he made four saves in last Saturday's scoreless draw with Southern Connecticut State…Junior forward
Hilmar Halldorsson is sixth among the league leaders with nine points on four goals and an assist…He is also tied for the league lead with two game-winners.
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