Hunting down the Ravens: Franklin Pierce enters season with bull's-eye on back

The Franklin Pierce men's soccer team entered the 2008 season with a bull's-eye on their back. They are the defending Division II National Champions and came into the season ranked number one in the NSCAA/Adidas Division II preseason poll. Despite their impressive rank as number one, the 2008 Ravens squad have a much different roster than the 2007 team that held their National Championship trophy high over their heads in Alabama last December.

Six Ravens who started in the 2007 Championship game are not returning this season. Captains Michel Vitulano and Peter Petropanagos graduated, while Graduate Student David Clifton and senior Michael Lima used up their eligibility. High-scoring forward Henning Come also did not return this season.

Then there's former Raven's goaltender James Thorpe. Thorpe, a 2008 graduate, and the 2007 Player of the Year, has now moved on to the MLS and is currently on D.C United's roster.

It is almost impossible to match Thorpe's record breaking numbers in net but Carl Contrascier, a sophomore from Hinkley, Ohio, will take a stab at it. Contracier must follow in the great footsteps of Thorpe.

Contrascier who is replacing a Franklin Pierce legend, will be the Franklin Pierce version of NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers who will replace NFL Legend Brett Favre in Green Bay.

"I got big shoes to fill, but I know if I have a good defense, all is in good hands," said Contrascier.

Not all of the weight is on the goaltender's shoulders. If the 2008 Ravens are going to succeed, it is up to the three new captains. Bisharra Ettienne, Marek Hawrylik, and Cole Larned are three of the fiercest players on the 2008 team, and have been named the captains by Head Coach Marco Koolman.

Ettienne was named the 2007 Defensive Player of the Year, but will switch positions from sweeper to center midfielder, and center fullback.

Larned, a huge fan favorite, will be seeing most of his playing time in the midfield. Larned scored 2 goals last season.

Hawrylik, the powerful Polish midfielder, will return for his fourth season. Hawrylik has 10 career goals at Franklin Pierce.

Ravens fly past Bridgeport 2-1 With many new faces added to the starting roster, the Men's Soccer team opened up their season on August 28 at Sodexho Field, defeating the University of Bridgeport Purple Knights 2-1, as part of the Labor Day Weekend Classic. Freshman forward Viktor Gonçalves was the hero of the game, scoring both of the Raven's goals in his very first collegiate game. Goncalves was not one of the starters at game time, but came out fresh in the second half. Just barely into the second half, in the 47 minute, Goncalves blasted a shot past Bridgeport Goalkeeper Milos Suljagic.

Franklin Pierce held the 1-0 lead, but it was soon erased when a Bridgeport midfielder crossed a ball through the Franklin Pierce defense. Franklin Pierce suffered a defensive meltdown allowing the ball to bounce one too many times inside the eighteen yard line, and Bridgeport midfielder Patric Brundin scored his first goal of the season, tying the game at one. Gonçalves then pounded in the winning goal in the 72nd minute, when he one-timed a quick low cross from senior captain Marek Hawrylik.

"It's brilliant because it's the first game," said Goncalves about his performance.

The Ravens out shot the Purple Knights 4-6 in the game but looked rusty in the first half. Bridgeport had many early scoring opportunities. In the 16 minute, Bridgeport could not connect on a free kick from the right side of the 18 yard line. Less than ten minutes later, Bridgeport could not connect on another free kick driving the ball into a Franklin Pierce defensive wall. "We need to improve in front of the goal offensively and we are giving away too many balls in the midfield," said Head Coach Marco Koolman.

Franklin Pierce turned things around towards the end of the first half. Sophomore Jamaican defender Shaliek Dawkins looked more like Jamaican Olympic Gold Medal sprinter Usain Bolt, beating his opponents to every loose ball with his impressive quick speed.

Freshman sweeper Tom Reilly held the defense together as they only allowed the Purple Knights 4 shots in the 90 minutes of play.

Franklin Pierce Goalkeeper Carl Contrascier only saw two shots off goal. He made one diving save in the 34th minute, and he secured his first win of the season.

Also in the game, forward/midfielder Kensaku Tsuji dislocated his shoulder but continued to play throughout the course of the game.

Ravens Shocked by the Chargers 2-0 The Dominican Chargers handed the Franklin Pierce men's soccer team their first loss since 2007, defeating the defending National Champions 2-0 on August 30.

Dominican College got goals in each half from sophomore midfielder Edwin Miranda and junior forward Joe Wright.

The Ravens offense was quiet, failing to register a shot on goal, despite taking eleven shots in the loss.

Ravens goalkeeper Carl Contrascier made one save in the game and was handed his first loss of the season.

Dominican goalie Brandon Heembrock did not have to make a save to secure the shutout, as Dominican remains undefeated this season.