Carr (1-1-2), McCarron (0-2-2) notch multiple points

WINCHENDON, Mass. (January 30, 2013) – Senior forward Roscoe Sweeney (Falmouth, Mass.) scored the tying goal with just 3:07 remaining in a wild, back-and-forth tilt on Wednesday night, as the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team played to a 4-4 tie with Assumption in Northeast-10 Conference play at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. Senior forward Keven Meehan scored twice and added an assist for Assumption, despite spending over 12 minutes of the game in the penalty box.

With the tie, Franklin Pierce moves to 4-10-3 (2-4-1 Northeast-10), while Assumption stands at 5-14-2 (2-5-2 Northeast-10). The two teams finish the three-game season series 1-1-1 against each other and, as such, split the two points in the Northeast-10 standings. Along the way, Assumption could not hold leads on four separate occasions, as the game was tied at 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 and 4-4, though Franklin Pierce never led.

The two teams traded five goals over the final 12 minutes of the third period on their way to the draw. Trailing 2-1 coming out of the second intermission, freshman forward Matt Batis (Lakewood, N.Y.) drew the Ravens level at 2-2 by sniping a wrist shot to the top corner from the right halfboards for his third of the season at the 8:17 mark. Though Assumption senior forward Dave Maiocco took a five-minute major and game misconduct for hitting from behind just 10 seconds after the Batis goal, the tie would last just 46 seconds. On the penalty kill, Meehan forced a turnover at his own blue line and sprung himself on a breakaway the other way. He beat Franklin Pierce senior goaltender Pat Dunn (Quincy, Mass.) at 9:03 for his second goal of the night.

Again the Ravens would pull even, this time at 3-3, at 13:41. Senior forward Michael Carr (South Boston, Mass.) re-directed a shot from the point by senior defenseman Wes Russell (Marlboro, Mass.) to score his sixth of the campaign. Senior defenseman Brendan McCarron (Andover, Mass.) picked up an assist as well, his second helper of the night. Once again, the tie would last less than a minute; this time the Greyhounds reclaimed the lead 41 seconds later. A mix-up in the neutral zone sent Assumption into the attacking zone with a head of steam. Junior forward Kyle Zobler would snap home his fifth of the season on the rush, while senior defenseman Dave D'Amico and Meehan would pick up the assists.

Franklin Pierce finally found a goal Assumption could not answer at the 16:53 mark with Sweeney's tying goal. Carr sent the puck to Sweeney on the right side, and the latter wired a snap shot to the top shelf for his fifth goal of the year. The final 3:07 and all five minutes of overtime would go without another goal, as both teams left the rink with a point.

Earlier in the game, the alternating goals theme was established in the second half of the second period, after the first half of the contest went by the boards goalless. At 11:28 of the middle frame, with Assumption on the power play, Meehan wound up with the puck on a rush through the left side of the offensive end. Dunn got a piece of the wrist shot, but it handcuffed him and he was unable to keep hold of it. The puck got behind him and trickled over the line for Meehan's fifth of the season.

The game's first goal served to open the floodgates, as Franklin Pierce tied the game at 1-1 only 21 seconds later. Freshman forward Michael Tallo (McKinney, Texas) slammed home a rebound amidst a scramble in front of the net for his first career goal, while McCarron picked up the lone assist.

Assumption took its 2-1 lead into the locker room on a defensive breakdown by Franklin Pierce with 3:27 to play in the period. The Greyhounds sprang junior forward Mike Heyde out of the neutral zone and into the attacking end on a breakaway. He deked towards the left post, but Dunn was able to stick out his right pad to make the first save. The rebound sat out in front of the crease and the trailer on the play, Maiocco, was the first man on the scene. Somehow, Dunn, while sprawled across the crease, got his glove to Maiocco's rebound attempt and kept it out of the net as well. However, on the ensuing play, the Ravens were unable to clear the zone and the puck squirted free to sophomore defenseman Ben Kuzma in the center of the blue line. He rifled a shot through traffic which Dunn possibly never saw for his first goal of the season.

Dunn made 30 saves in net for Franklin Pierce on the way to the tie (2-6-2), while Bowden (4-11-1) stopped 35 shots for Assumption.

The Ravens return to the ice on Saturday, Feb. 2, when they travel to Stonehill for a Northeast-10 Conference contest. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. at Foxboro Sports Center in Foxboro, Mass. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on Tuesday, Feb. 5 against Saint Michael's 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).