FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2012
Northeast-10 Conference Game of the Week
features pair of top-10 teams in the nation
SOUTH EASTON, Mass. – No. 3 Southern New Hampshire University travels to Rindge, N.H. on Saturday night to take on No. 6 Franklin Pierce University at 7:00 p.m. in a Northeast-10 Conference men's soccer matchup.
THE MATCHUP: So. New Hampshire (4-0, 1-0 NE-10) and Franklin Pierce (2-1, 0-1 NE-10) swapped places in the national poll this past week, as the Penmen jumped three spots to third in the country while the Ravens dropped three spots to sixth. The two schools also finished tied for first in last month's Northeast-10 Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The pair of nationally ranked top-10 teams will go head to head for the first time this season on Saturday after squaring off three different times a year ago. In all three of those matchups, Franklin Pierce came away with a one-goal victory each time, including 1-0 finals in the Northeast-10 Championship contest and also in the NCAA Quarterfinals.
THE COACHES: So. New Hampshire head coach Marc Hubbard is his fifth year with the Penmen. Hubbard has posted a 59-14-13 (.762) record over his first four years in Manchester, earning NCAA Tournament berths in each of those seasons, including NCAA quarterfinal trips in 2009 and 2011. He is also a two-time Northeast-10 Coach of the Year.
For the Ravens, first-year head coach Ian Clerihew has taken over the reigns of the program with his hiring in March. Clerihew has a great deal of coaching success at the Division II level, having led Mars Hill to the NCAA Tournament last season. In his three years as head coach at Mars Hill from 2009-11, Clarihew compiled a record of 35-19-6 (.633).
THE PENMEN: So. New Hampshire earned a pair of victories last week versus Bridgeport (3-0) and at Dowling (1-0) before claiming a 2-1 victory on the road Tuesday night over Merrimack College.
The Penmen have been led by senior Chris Tsonis, who registered the game-winning goal in all three of the aforementioned contests. Tsonis, last year's Northeast-10 leader in goals scored (17), has four goals and an assist for nine points through four games this season. Sophomore Mohamed Toufik has two goals and an assist for five points, while five other Penmen have recorded at least two points on the year.
THE RAVENS: Franklin Pierce battled to a 5-4 victory on the road this past Saturday over Wilmington (Del.) before suffering a 3-2 loss at No. 23 University of Massachusetts Lowell on Tuesday night. The setback ended a 30-game unbeaten streak in regular-season play that dated back to the 2010 season.
The Ravens have been led by senior Greg Giguere (pictured) with four goals and an assist for nine points, while classmate Daniel Donaldson and junior Gareth Dudney have two goals apiece.
HOW TO FOLLOW: Fans can watch or listen live via the Raven Sports Network, and live stats are also available.
AROUND THE NE-10: All 14 Northeast-10 men's soccer teams will be in action on Saturday, as six other contests will take place in addition to the Penmen-Ravens matchup. Stay up to date on all of the action with the NE-10 Live Scoreboard … UMass Lowell's Bruno Bonicontro was named the Northeast-10 Select Sport Player of the Week on Monday after scoring three times in a 2-0 week for the River Hawks.
The Northeast-10 Conference is an association of 16 NCAA Division II colleges and universities located in New England and New York that is committed to supporting balanced academic and athletic opportunities for more than 6,000 student-athletes. Each year, 4,000 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 23 sports, making the NE-10 the largest DII conference in the country. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the Northeast-10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
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