Ravens visit Assumption on Saturday

HOOKSETT, N.H. (January 22, 2013) – A goal in the final five minutes of the second period on Tuesday night proved to be the difference, as the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team dropped a 2-0 decision to Southern New Hampshire in Northeast-10 Conference play at the Ice Den. Sophomore defenseman Kyle O'Connell scored the game-winning goal for SNHU.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 4-9-2 (2-23-0 Northeast-10), while Southern New Hampshire improves to 3-12-2 (1-3-1 Northeast-10). The game was the first of the three-game season series between the two teams. Franklin Pierce will have to win both of the remaining games to pick up the two points in the Northeast-10 standings for winning the season series. The two clubs will meet again in a mid-February home-and-home series: Feb. 12 in Winchendon and Feb. 14 back at the Ice Den.

After the entire first period and most of the second went without a goal, SNHU opened the scoring with 4:40 to play in the middle stanza. O'Connell's first career goal would be the only offense the Penmen needed on the night. Junior forward Brian Troy picked up the lone assist.

All in all, the teams generated similar levels of offense on the night, as SNHU held a 33-28 edge in shots on goal, thanks mostly to a lengthy 5-on-3 advantage in the second period, as well as a full two minutes of two-man advantage in the third, both of which Franklin Pierce was able to kill off without incident. In the end, each team hung an 0-for on the power play, with Franklin Pierce posting an 0-for-4 and SNHU failing to convert on nine opportunities with the man-advantage.

However, the Ravens were unable to find the equalizer along the way. The 2-0 final came as a result of a SNHU goal in the waning seconds of the third period. With just four seconds to play, freshman forward Joe Collins netted his seventh of the campaign, off assists from sophomore forwards Zach Lubinski and Steven Berry.

Junior goaltender Dave O'Brien (Groton, Mass.) made 31 saves and took the loss (2-4-1) in net for Franklin Pierce. Junior Tyler Holske made 28 stops to pick up the win (3-8-2) and tally his second shutout of the season between the pipes for SNHU. Two of Holske's three career shutouts have been against Franklin Pierce, with the other coming on Jan. 19, 2011, a 30-save effort at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena.

The Ravens return to the ice on Saturday, Jan. 26, when they travel to Assumption for a Northeast-10 Conference contest. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 4:35 p.m. at Buffone Rink in Worcester, Mass. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on Wednesday, Jan. 30 against Assumption at 7:30 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce men's ice hockey apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' brand new online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).