COLCHESTER, Vt. - The Saint Michael's College men's soccer team lost to No. 1 Franklin Pierce University, 8-1, on Wednesday night at Duffy Field in Northeast-10 Conference play. The Purple Knights tallied first and trailed only 2-1 at halftime against the Ravens, who won the 2022 national championship and are first in the latest United Soccer Coaches national rankings.
 
RECORDS

• Saint Michael's (2-3-1, 1-1 NE10), Franklin Pierce (5-0, 2-0 NE10)

SAINT MICHAEL'S LEADERS

• Senior Liam Barrett (Saugus, Mass./Malden Catholic/UMass Lowell), 6 saves

OPPONENT LEADERS

• Graduate student Younes Addar Khanoussi, 2 goals
• Graduate student Alvaro Rey Mira, 1 goal, 1 assist
• Graduate student Aaron Sanchez Sanchez, 1 goal, 1 assist
• Sophomore Antonio Lampreia Lima, 1 goal, 1 assist
• Graduate student Aitor Cuenca Retuerto, 2 assists
• Senior Karl Vernet, 0 saves in 75:53, win
• Sophomore Jett Barbic, 0 saves in 14:07 of relief

GAME FACTS

• Saint Michael's netted the opening goal on Wednesday, marking the first time the Ravens had trailed since Dec. 2, 2021, in the third round/Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Franklin Pierce had last trailed an NE10 team on Nov. 10, 2021, in an NE10 semifinal against Southern New Hampshire University.
• The Purple Knights held a 5-3 edge in first-half corner kicks, as each team attempted six for the game.
• Franklin Pierce is riding a 38-game unbeaten streak (36-0-2), moving 20-0-1 in its last 21 games against NE10 foes.

THE ACTION

• Senior Joao Valente had a point-blank header turned away by Barrett during the ninth minute.
• Early in the 13th minute, sophomore Jack Andrews' (Beverly, Mass./Bishop Fenwick) cross from the left sideline was redirected into the net by a Raven field player, providing the Purple Knights a 1-0 lead.
• Just 1:51 later, Khanoussi finished from the right side of the box with 13:55 gone after taking Lima's short flick.
• Graduate student Rodrigo Parafita Bestilliero put Franklin Pierce ahead in the 28th minute with a left-footed blast from 25 yards.
• Saint Michael's nearly leveled the score, as first-year Marshall Butler (Middletown, Conn./Middletown) pushed a one-touch over the crossbar in the 42nd minute.
• The Ravens pulled away with three goals in a 9:24 span early in the second stanza, forging ahead 3-1 on Khanoussi's tally at 53:44 before Mira added another marker 2:05 later.

NEXT SAINT MICHAEL'S GAME

• Saturday at Bentley University, 6 p.m.