Cougars Eliminated in National Semifinals

Box Score

December 2, 2005

         WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS -- Raphael Guimaraes scored in the 84th minute as Franklin Pierce eliminated Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the national semifinals of the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championships.
         SIUE, making its third appearance in the national semifinals in the last five seasons, dominated play but fell short on the scoreboard. The Cougars outshot Franklin Pierce 17-7. "You can do a lot of good things and play really well. You can have good possession and good stats, but there is only one stat that really counts and they got that most important one," said SIUE Coach Ed Huneke.
         Senior forward Pete Cacciatore, who led SIUE with six shots, hit the Franklin Pierce post in the 57th minute. It was a shot Cacciatore wished he could have scored for his fellow seniors.
         "I couldn't believe it hit the post. To come that close, three inches; it probably would have went in," said Cacciatore. "This is going to be a tough one to remember.
         "I just wish for my teammates that we could have won one, especially Kevin Thibodeau and Brian Higgins. They are like brothers to me. I wanted to have a national championship for them as well as myself."
         The Cougars often challenged Franklin Pierce goalkeeper James Thorpe, who collected six saves. Thibodeau, the Great Lakes Valley Conference's Player of the Year, also had a missed opportunity with 8:30 left to play that was saved by Thorpe.
         The Cougars also dominated on corner kicks 11-0 over Franklin Pierce.
         "I guess it is one of those things you have to see it to believe it and then you still don't believe it," Huneke said.
         SIUE essentially shut down one of the most potent offenses in the nation. Franklin Pierce entered the game with 64 goals in 25 games. The Cougars held the Ravens to seven shots overall, including four shots on goal. "We have great defenders," said Huneke. "(Kevin) Thidodeau and Mike Zaegel are used to covering some big-time forwards. To be honest with you, we are not worried about how many stats the other team has."
         Both teams had trouble managing the wind on the campus of Midwestern State University, but it was the Ravens which pressed forward to seal the victory.
         The Ravens' Christopher Joyce flared a pass to Guimaraes near the front of the goal for the eventual game-winner past SIUE goalkeeper Greg Crook with 6:37 left to play. Crook finished the game with three saves.
         SIUE completed the season with a 16-3-3 record. Franklin Pierce, now 16-5-5, heads to the national championship game on Sunday to face the semifinal winner of the Lynn-Fort Lewis matchup.
                  -siue cougars-

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Players Mentioned

#2 Pete Cacciatore: F; 5' 8"; Senior

#1 Greg Crook: GK; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#8 Brian Higgins: MF; 5' 10"; Senior

#22 Kevin Thibodeau: B; 5' 10"; Junior

#12 Mike Zaegel: B/MF; 5' 10"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#2 Pete Cacciatore
: 5' 8"; Senior
: F

#1 Greg Crook
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: GK

#8 Brian Higgins
: 5' 10"; Senior
: MF

#22 Kevin Thibodeau
: 5' 10"; Junior
: B

#12 Mike Zaegel
: 5' 10"; Junior
: B/MF