When and Where: November 2, 2022 – Rindge, N.H. (Sodexo Field)
Score: #1 Franklin Pierce University 7, Southern New Hampshire University 1
Records: SNHU 8-6-4, FPU 19-0-1
Junior
Luca Shubitidze (Leipzig, Germany) scored to knot the game in the 16th minute, but the fourth-seeded Southern New Hampshire University men's soccer team absorbed a 7-1 defeat against No. 1-ranked and top-seeded Franklin Pierce University on Wednesday evening in NE10 Championship semifinal action.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- Shubitidze – goal
- Freshman Phillipp Hermann (Bruckmuehl, Germany) – assist
KEY MOMENTS
- Franklin Pierce struck first just 7:23 in with a Miguel Secades Rodriguez strike.
- Shubitidze tied it at the 15:10 mark off an assist from Hermann.
- It was all Ravens from there, however, as they scored three more to take a 4-1 lead to the locker room and tacked on three more in the second half.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Sophomore Preston Neal (Windham, N.H.) allowed six goals over the opening 58:37 of action, while junior Christian da Cruz (Ludlow, Mass.) stopped one of two shots he faced in the final 31:23 for the only Penmen save.
- Franklin Pierce outshot SNHU, 17-4, including 8-2 in shots on target.
- The Ravens also owned a 3-1 edge in corner kicks.
NOTES
- The Penmen have dropped the last five meetings with the Ravens, but SNHU leads the all-time series 30-29-6. FPU edged SNHU, 1-0, at Ouellette Stadium on Oct. 22.
- Franklin Pierce is ranked No. 1 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division II Poll.
- The tilt was a rematch of last season's NE10 semifinal in which Franklin Pierce scored a 2-1 overtime win in Rindge.
- Southern New Hampshire dips to 23-10-7 (.663) all-time in NE10 Championship play, including 2-8-2 (.250) against Franklin Pierce. The Penmen had never lost by more than two goals in the NE10 postseason.
- The seven goals are the most the Penmen have given up since Sept. 28, 1994 when they dropped a 7-4 decision at home to Franklin Pierce. Meanwhile, the six-goal margin of defeat is SNHU's worst since a 6-0 loss against Southern Connecticut State University on Oct. 30, 1982.
- SNHU falls to 0-3-0 this season against nationally-ranked opponents.
WHAT'S NEXT
- SNHU will now await its NCAA Championship fate. The NCAA Selection Show airs Monday, Nov. 7 (6:30 p.m.) on NCAA.com.