MEN'S SOCCER HOSTS THIRD-RANKED FRANKLIN PIERCE IN LUDLOW SATURDAY

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (September 14, 2006) - The American International College men's soccer team, off to a 4-1-0 start, plays host to third-ranked Franklin Pierce College Saturday evening at Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow, Mass.  Game time is set for 7:00 pm.  Admission is $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for children under the age of 12.  Youth soccer players who wear their team's jersey Saturday will be admitted for $1.00.

AIC, the No. 5 ranked team in New England in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division II regional ranking, set a school record by winning its first four games before falling 2-1 at Le Moyne Wednesday afternoon.  Chris Charles (Brooklyn, N.Y.), who leads AIC with seven goals for 14 points, had four goals in a recent 8-0 win over Saint Rose and was named Northeast-10 Player of the Week on Monday.  Benard Kessie (Worcester, Mass.) has three goals and an assist for seven points, while Marek Przybylek (Olsztyn, Poland) has registered a goal and three helpers thus far.  Senior goalkeeper Michael Murphy (Ithaca, N.Y.) owns a .857 save percentage and a 1.27 goals-against average in net for AIC.

The Yellow Jackets have several Western Massachusetts products making contributions to the team's fast start.  Senior Norbert Dusza (Holyoke, Mass./Holyoke) has recorded a pair of assists, while freshman Kyle Paton (Westfield, Mass./Westfield) has a goal and an assist on the young season.  Senior Richard Speer (Springfield, Mass./Holyoke C.C.) and junior Luke Consolini (West Springfield, Mass./Longmeadow) have also seen extensive playing time for the Yellow Jackets.

Franklin Pierce, who was ranked No. 1 nationally before a 0-0 tie with No. 21 UMass Lowell last Saturday, enters Saturday's game with a 5-0-1 record after defeating Assumption 2-0 on Wednesday night.  The Ravens, who reached the NCAA Division II championship game last season, have two local players in junior goalie James Thorpe (East Longmeadow, Mass./Bridgton Academy) and junior Mike Lima (Ludlow, Mass./Ludlow).  Thorpe recently broke FPC's career shutout mark and has 29 shutouts over his two-plus year career, while Lima has played in all six games thus far, earning four starts.

AIC is winless against Franklin Pierce in seven tries.  Last season the Ravens posted a 1-0 overtime victory in Rindge, N.H.