When and Where: November 4, 2026 – Hooksett, N.H. (Mark A. Ouellette Stadium)
Score: #8/#1 seed Southern New Hampshire University 3, #18/#5 seed Franklin Pierce University 2 (OT)
Records: SNHU 12-1-4, FPU 9-5-4
Freshman Vigo Frank (Rijeka, Croatia) struck just 40 seconds into overtime to lift the eighth-ranked and top-seeded Southern New Hampshire University men's soccer team to a 3-2 triumph over 18th-ranked and fifth-seeded Franklin Pierce University on Wednesday night in an NE10 Championship semifinal at Ouellette Stadium. The Penmen will go for their second league crown in three years Saturday afternoon.
KEY MOMENTS
- Trailing 2-1 with 9:41 remaining in regulation, the Penmen tied it when junior Gabriel Castro (León, Spain) buried a free kick from 20 yards out.
- Frank wasted no time sending the Penmen to the NE10 final in the extra session, tracking down a long pass from senior Alex Pons (Castellón, Spain) and slotting it past the goalkeeper.
NOTES
- Southern New Hampshire, ranked eighth in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division II Top 25, is unbeaten in 16 of 17 this season.
- SNHU improves to 30-11-7 (.698) all-time in 26 appearances in the NE10 Championship, including 3-8-3 (.300) against Franklin Pierce. The Ravens had previously knocked the Penmen out of the NE10 Championship in four of the last five seasons, including a 3-2 decision in last year's semifinal. SNHU betters its record to 3-1-1 over its last five NE10 Championship home tilts.
- The Penmen will now play host to second-seeded American International College, which defeated third-seeded Bentley University in double-overtime, in the title match Saturday (Nov. 7) at 4 p.m. SNHU will be in search of its league-best ninth NE10 crown and second in the last three seasons. The Penmen edged the Yellow Jackets, 2-1, at home back on Sept. 19. They also took down AIC, 4-1, in last year's first round.
- SNHU takes a 33-32-8 lead in the all-time series and is now unbeaten in five of the last six meetings (3-1-2), including three of the last four matchups at Ouellette (2-1-1).
- Frank's goal is his second of the year and first since Sept. 23.
- Castro now has seven goals on the season and 16 in his three-year Penmen career.
- Burusco opened the scoring early in the 33rd minute with his team-best 13th goal of the season.
- Fifth year goalkeeper Alvaro Garcia (Barcelona, Spain) made four saves.
- The two scores by the Ravens match the number of goals given up by the Penmen over their last 851:19 – a span of nine matches.
- The Penmen are now 174-43-33 (.762) over their last 250 matches dating back to the beginning of the 2013 National Championship season. SNHU is also 46-7-10 (.810) over its last 63 matches dating back to 2023.
- The Penmen improve to 118-16-19 (.833) over their last 153 contests at home, including 56-9-12 (.803) at Ouellette Stadium. SNHU is now 27-2-4 (.879) at home over its last three seasons, including 8-0-1 this year, and is unbeaten in 27 of its last 28 at Ouellette (23-1-4).
UP NEXT
- The top-seeded Penmen return to action Saturday (Nov. 7) at 4 p.m. when they play host to second-seeded American International College in the NE10 Championship final at Ouellette Stadium. Tickets are $10 for adults, and $5 for seniors and children. Current NE10 students (with valid ID), as well as SNHU faculty and staff (with valid ID), will be admitted free of charge.
