Franklin Pierce Alumnus Assists His Old Soccer Team
by Heather Riley
edited by Erica Jordan
The Franklin Pierce men’s soccer team is doing their part to help the earthquake victims of Haiti by holding fundraisers and collecting clothes and shoes to be sent back to Haiti.
Head coach Craig Stewart alongside assistant coach David Maddock are leading the efforts to raise money for Haiti. The 26 man roster has set a goal to raise at least $2,000 to send to Haiti. If this goal is not met each of the players will also donate a minimum of $5.
The team is collecting clothes as well as shoes to be donated to those in need in Haiti. All donations will be sent back personally by Frantz Francois, a graduate from Franklin Pierce and native Haitian, to various parts of Port-Au-Prince.
Francois, a former team member, is pleased with the team’s efforts. “We want as much help as possible. I don’t want people getting the wrong impression of the Haitians that were directly affected by the earthquake. Some Americans think that they are poor people who can’t afford to help themselves, but that is not the case,” said Francois.
Francois was born and raised in Port-Au- Prince with the rest of his family. “I know that Haitians in the United States are saying that this person and that person should help, but they aren’t looking at themselves and how much of an impact they could make. You have to take care of your own people before you can expect others to help you,” said Francois.
In addition to collecting donations, clothing and shoes, the team will also be holding a phone-a-thon here on campus sometime next week. All money donated will be sent to Haiti as well as the money the team would have been paid for working the phones. Oti Achamfour, a sophomore and member of the soccer team said, “I am glad we can lend a helping hand because Frantz is family to us, so I look at it as looking after a fellow brother.”
The earthquake that took place on the 12 of January left many Haitians stranded without shelter, food, and water while others perished or remain missing. It was declared the biggest disaster in Haiti’s history with a death toll of over 50,000.
For more information on how you can help donate to those in Haiti contact the men’s soccer head coach Craig Stewart at (603)899-4082 or by email at stewartc@franklinpierce.edu.
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Men’s Soccer Team Holds Open Try-Out
by Heather Riley
edited by Joseph Landini
The Franklin Pierce men’s soccer team held an open try-out for the first time in over eight years this past Sunday February 28 in the Northfield Activity center.
The team prepared for the try-outs by putting up flyers and sending out campus wide emails. “I thought there would be a better turn out, but it was good to see those that did come try-out working hard with the rest of the team,” said sophomore Oti Achamfour.
Shaliek Dawkins sets up a play in the scrimmage.
There were four students that decided to take advantage of the open try-outs. Of these four students was freshman, Alex Calvey. “I felt that the try-out was run fairly for those that were trying out for a position on the team,” said Calvey.
The entire try-out consisted of scrimmages so the assistant coach could evaluate those trying out. In order to give everyone an equal opportunity to play soccer, the present members of the soccer team along with those that were trying out were split into three teams. Each of the three teams had at least one newcomer to play with. The teams allowed each of those trying out to play as much as possible by giving them fewer subs. Even though the try-out was supposed to last until 8 p.m., the boys continued to play on.
Assistant coach Steve Maddock led the try-outs in the absence of head coach Craig Stewart. Both coaches are in their first year with the program. The try-outs were held in hopes to try bettering the team in order to go beyond regular season play. “It gave guys the opportunity to try-out who may not have had the chance to during summer try-outs,” said Maddock, “You never know who might have been overlooked.”
The team is coming off an impressive season, which saw the Raven’s finish 16th nationally and a Sweet 16 appearance.
The team working hard during the try-out.
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Slideshow: Men’s soccer team defeats Merrimack during first round
Click the link to YouTube.
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Video: Field hockey team to continue their season after win over Southern Connecticut
Click this link for a video on the field hockey team.
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Slideshow: FPU women’s soccer 2010 playoffs
http://www.fpujournalism.org/theexchange/2010/12/09/fpu-womens-soccer-2010-playoffs/
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