FRANKLIN, Mass. – Suffolk men's soccer's 2025 opener, a showdown at Dean, was suspended with 11 minutes left on the scoreboard in the first half due to a lightning strike. Following an hour-long delay, the officials made the call to stop play Friday afternoon at Longley Athletic Complex.  

The Rams and Bulldogs will pick up where they left off, with the blue-and-gold up 3-2, Tuesday, Sept. 30 at James A. Sartori Stadium at East Boston Memorial Park. 

Prior to the inclement weather, it was an action-packed, back-and-forth, season-opener. 

Dean got on the board first with a good penalty kick 31 seconds into the action and the playing field leveled 16 minutes later when Mohamed Mehaya scored his first collegiate goal. 

The Bulldogs regained the upperhand less than a minute to put the blue-and-gold in a 2-1 hole.  

Five minutes after that, Francisco Valck took over for Suffolk with a pair of goals over a near 5-minute span to push the Rams in front 3-2, prior to the lightening.  

Suffolk turns its attention to its home opener Sunday, Aug. 31 against Brandeis in Eastie at 1:00 p.m.