Franklin Pierce men’s soccer stands alone at the top. And by some margin.
A dominant second half yielded four goals as the Ravens defeated Colorado State Pueblo 4-0 in the NCAA Division II National Championship, defending their title from a year ago, Saturday night in Matthews, N.C.
The Ravens (21-0-2) also defeated CSU Pueblo in the finals last year, 2-0, in Seattle, Wash. Pierce is the first repeat national champion in Division II since Southern Connecticut State in 1998 and 1999, and the Ravens did so with two different head coaches.
It’s Brent’s first year as a head coach in college soccer. He previously won a national championship as an assistant coach at Charleston (WV) in 2019, and also lost in the finals in 2021.
A steady rain fell as the final whistle sounded and a Ravenous celebration ensued. Brent, with the championship trophy in hand, received a Powerade shower from his players.
“It’s incredible,” said Brent, a Virginia Beach, Va. native. “I was fortunate enough to win one as an assistant, and I have been on both sides. I understand the significance of the moment and what it means not only to hold the trophy but to reflect on everything we worked on throughout the season and it’s something to celebrate and enjoy together because we did it together.”
“It’s always about us,” Brent added. “It’s us against the world. The boys have really bought into being there for each other.”
Where last year, the Ravens used one goal in each half to cruise to a 2-0 shutout, all four goals came in the second half Saturday.
In the final 45 minutes, four different Ravens found the twine.
Pierce poured on from there.
Caleb Williams made it 3-0 in the 77th minute. Pedro Branco netted his first goal of the season to cap the scoring, making it 4-0 in the 87th minute on an assist from Tiago Barriguinha.
“[CSU Pueblo] wanted redemption from last season, and the players knew that and understood that,” said Brent. “But I think we really outplayed them in the second half. The gameplan that we came out with showed itself well.”
The margin of victory is tied for the largest in a Division II title game, which dates back to 1972. Only two other times (2015 and 1991).
Shots on net were even in the match, as senior keeper Karl Vernet pushed away seven to secure the clean sheet, his third of the NCAA Tournament.
Vernet, who missed six weeks this season after going down with injury in early October, comes away as unsung hero of sorts backstopping a Ravens team that scored 14 goals in five tournament games. He allowed just goals in the tournament, both in a 3-2 semifinal win against Lewis (Ill.) on Thursday.
“Karl has gone a bit under the radar,” Brent said. “He was phenomenal tonight. He’s phenomenal every time he plays, every time he trains.”
Franklin Pierce now is unbeaten in its 49 straight contests — going 46-0-3 in that stretch. Its last loss was 737 days ago to Millersville on penalty kicks in the third round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Its last regulation loss was to Stonehill on Oct. 23, 2021 — 777 days ago.
