Men's Soccer

Rindge, N.H., - For just the third time, and the first since 2006, the NE10 champion was crowned on penalty kicks Sunday night as Franklin Pierce pulled off the first league title three-peat since 2015.  The No. 1 Ravens took down No. 7 Southern New Hampshire for the sixth NE10 championship in program history.

Deadlocked after five penalty kicks, FPU and SNHU went into bonus rounds with each converting their first attempt.  Rafa Escobedo, however, misfired in round seven and set the stage for Portugese midfielder Joao Valente.  The senior beat Southern New Hampshire's all-NE10 keeper Preston Neal to capture the conference crown.  All three NE10 championship finals that have been decided on PK's have all ended in the seventh round.

Adding to the intrigue, NE10 Goalkeeper of the Year Diego Montoya Casillas did not suit up for Franklin Pierce after sustaining an injury in the semifinals.  Sophomore Jett Barbic started his second career match before giving way to classmate David Skorodumov, who had never appeared in a collegiate game, for the penalty kicks.  Barbic made four saves.

Scoring in regulation was contained to the first half and a five minute span.  NE10 Player of the Year Younes Addar Khanoussi planted his 18th goal in the back fo the net in the 39th minute.  Shane Siegel provided the SNHU answer in the 44th minute.  The game would remain tied unil PK's. 

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Saturday, November 4^th  
Quarterfinals – at Higher Seeds
Match 1: #8 AIC 0, #1 Franklin Pierce 0 (5-4, PK's)
Match 2: #7 SNHU 2, #2 Bentley 0
Match 3: #6 SCSU 1, #3 Adelphi 0
Match 4: #5 Saint Anselm 1, #4 Saint Rose 0

Thursday, November 9^th     
Semifinals - at Higher Seeds
Match 5: SNHU 1, Southern Connecticut State 0
Match 6: Saint Anselm 2, Franklin Pierce 3