SNHU men, Franklin Pierce women advance to NCAA Division II soccer quarterfinals

The Southern New Hampshire University men’s soccer team and Franklin Pierce University women’s soccer team are headed to the quarterfinals.

Both teams won their NCAA Division II tournament third-round home games on Sunday.

SNHU (16-2-2) defeated the University of Charleston 2-0 behind second-half goals from Dani Gonzalez and Charlie Preus and a two-save shutout performance by Alvaro Garcia.

Charleston entered the game as the top team in the United Soccer Coaches Division II Top 25 poll while the Penmen were ranked sixth.

SNHU will host its quarterfinal bout against Gannon University (15-2-4) on Saturday (3 p.m.) at Mark A. Ouellette Stadium in Hooksett. The game will mark the Penmen’s 12th quarterfinal appearance and first since 2013.

Gannon advanced with a 2-1 third-round triumph at Northeast 10 Conference champion Franklin Pierce on Sunday.

The Franklin Pierce women will play their quarterfinal game at West Chester University of Pennsylvania on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Ravens (15-2-5) advanced with a 1-0 third-round home victory over Thomas Jefferson University on Sunday.

Thomas Jefferson scored an own goal in the 82nd minute following a cross by Ravens freshman McKenna Maguire.

A Brookline resident, Maguire tried to send a cross pass to Claudia Peirce but a Thomas Jefferson defender tipped the ball into their own net.

Franklin Pierce goalkeeper Jess LaCroix, a freshman from Nashua, made three saves for the shutout.