ORANGE BEACH, Ala. (December 2, 2007) – The Franklin Pierce University men’s soccer team captured its first NCAA Division II National Championship in program history with a 1-0 victory over 16th-ranked Lincoln Memorial University (Tenn.) at the Orange Beach Sportsplex this afternoon.

Franklin Pierce (17-2-4) claims the sixth National Championship in University history, adding to its five women’s soccer national championships in the mid-to-late 1990’s. The Ravens first men’s title comes in the program’s third Final Four appearance and after they were national runners up in 2005. Lincoln Memorial University (20-4-1) saw its quest for its first national championship come up just short after making its second-straight Final Four appearance and first title match.

“The one thing we stress in this program is that we can all be great players that you need personality and character,” said Franklin Pierce Head Coach Marco Koolman. “I think in those last two areas, these seniors have passed along that message to anyone who joined the program. I’m just so happy for these players, our University and alumni.”

Grad student David Clifton (London, England) earned Most Outstanding Offensive Player honors of the Final Four as he netted the lone goal of the match with just 1:50 to play in regulation. He took a pass on the right channel from junior Frantz Francois (Saint-Marc, Haiti/Palm Beach Lakes (Fla.)) and chipped a shot over LMU senior goalkeeper Brent Cole (Knoxville, Tenn.) and into the upper left corner of the net for his NCAA Division II record ninth goal of the Tournament.

“[The goal] happened so fast, I just tried to lift it over and it went in,” said Clifton. “It’s really nice to break records, but it’s most satisfying to win as a team and represent the University.”

Clifton, who broke the Division II record for career tournament goals with ten, scored Franklin Pierce’s last eight goals of the season and nine of the Ravens 11 markers in the NCAA Tournament. He capped his season with 25 goals and three assists for 53 points.

“In a game like this it takes scoring one more goal than the opposition,” said Koolman. “It was very much an appropriate goal for David to score.”

Senior All-America goalkeeper James Thorpe (East Longmeadow, Mass./Bridgton Academy) was forced to make just one save to preserve the championship victory and his 12th shutout of the season to earn Most Outstanding Defensive Player honors for the Final Four. The shutout was the 49th of his four-year career – just one shy of the Division II record of 50 set by former Southern Connecticut State University All-American Bo Oshoniyi in the early 1990’s.

Thorpe also broke the NCAA all-division record for minutes played by a goalkeeper less than six minutes into the contest. His 8,391:11 career minutes played surpass the previous collegiate record of 8,306 set by Steve McCullough, who played for UNC Ashville and Marquette from 1991-94.

Joining Clifton and Thorpe on the All-Tournament team were Francois and senior backs Michel Vitulano (Montreal, Quebec/College de Maisonneuve) and Bisharra Ettienne (East Elmhurst, N.Y./Dominica State College).

Lincoln Memorial posted a 12-7 advantage in shots for the match, but placed just one shot on target. The Ravens had two shots on goal and enjoyed the better run of play and scoring chances all afternoon.

“Our sport is so unforgiving sometimes it makes no sense,” said Lincoln Memorial Head Coach Helio D’Anna. “We live in a reality where not necessarily possessing, out-possessing, out-shooting our out-doing anything guarantees anything. Franklin Pierce is a great team, but we feel we did what it took to win the game. That’s soccer and that’s why we love this game.”

Cole finished with one save for LMU, that coming less than four minutes into the contest when he charged off his line to stop a drive by junior Marek Hawrylik (Olztyn, Poland/The Winchendon (Mass.) School) from point-blank range after a nice give-and-go with Clifton.

“I think we struggled in the first half,” said Koolman. “Part of it was nerves and some players not realizing what was at stake. Part of that we set straight at halftime and made some tactical changes.”

“For everyone involved in the program, it’s been a long hard battle, but I am proud, happy, and delighted for our school,” said Koolman. “It’s great and wonderful to be the national champions.”

–courtesy FPU