Franklin Falls at Blackburn Despite Late Crivari Goal

Franklin College made a late push Monday afternoon, but the Grizzlies couldn’t completely erase a two-goal deficit in a 2-1 loss to Blackburn College.

The loss dropped Franklin to 0-3-2, while Blackburn improved to 2-3-1.

Blackburn grabbed the lead in the 30th minute. Grant Eugea scored his first goal of the season at 29:43, with Victor Juarez picking up the assist, sending the Beavers into halftime with a 1-0 advantage.

The hosts doubled the lead early in the second half. At 55:04, Talan Miller scored his first goal of the year, with Nathan Soto and Cade Harper both credited with assists.

Franklin refused to go quietly.

The Grizzlies finally broke through at 81:57, when sophomore midfielder Enzo Crivari scored his first goal of the season off an assist from freshman Tripp O’Brien, cutting Blackburn’s advantage to 2-1 with just over eight minutes remaining.

Crivari was Franklin’s biggest offensive threat throughout the afternoon. He finished with four shots, all four on goal, accounting for every Franklin shot on target in the match. Franklin finished with 11 total shots compared with Blackburn’s 13.

Freshman goalkeeper Austin White went the full 90 minutes for Franklin and made three saves while allowing the two Blackburn goals. Blackburn goalkeeper Brayden Keys was credited with two saves in the official individual goalkeeper statistics.

Franklin actually generated more of its attack after halftime, taking seven of its 11 shots in the second 45 minutes. Russell Bilohlavek, Doodensly Moise and Kelechi Mbah each finished with two shots, while Lane Trump added another attempt. Blackburn held a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks.

The Grizzlies now return home looking for their first victory of the season when they host Spalding on Friday, September 18 at 7 p.m. at Faught Stadium.