Batis, Carr find back of net

Video of First Franklin Pierce Goal
Video of Second Franklin Pierce Goal 

MANCHESTER, N.H. (March 2, 2013) – The old guard and the new guard, represented by senior forward Michael Carr (South Boston, Mass.) and freshman forward Matt Batis (Lakewood, N.Y.), each scored goals on Saturday afternoon for the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team in the program's first trip to the final round of the Northeast-10 Conference Championship. However, it would not be enough, as a goal and an assist by junior forward Joe Tebano and a 46-21 shots on goal advantage led Saint Anselm to a 5-2 win at Sullivan Arena. It is the fourth consecutive Northeast-10 title for Saint Anselm.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce concludes its season at 9-12-3, and set a program record for wins along the way. Saint Anselm wraps up its campaign at 16-8-3. The Hawks have participated in 13 of the 14 Northeast-10 finals and captured the eighth Conference banner in program history. At the game's conclusion, both senior forward Roscoe Sweeney (Falmouth, Mass.) and junior goaltender Dave O'Brien (Groton, Mass.) were named to the Northeast-10 All-Championship Team.

Saint Anselm opened the scoring in the title bout 4:56 into the opening period, when senior defenseman Evan Gogonis worked the puck to the right half boards and senior forward Tim King, who sent a quick pass into the high slot. Senior forward Mike Richard was waiting there for it and one-timed his team-leading 20th goal of the season to the top corner.

The Hawks doubled the lead to 2-0 less than five minutes later, at 9:35, when Tebano forced a turnover along the boards on the offensive left-wing side as Franklin Pierce attempted to clear. He spun and flung a shot towards the cage which snuck by O'Brien for his ninth of the season, unassisted.

The Ravens got on the board at 12:17 when senior defenseman Matt Lopes (Auburn, N.H.) and junior defenseman Kyle Craig (Quincy, Mass.) teamed to get the puck to Batis in the right-wing circle. Batis cut into the slot and slipped his fourth of the campaign past Saint Anselm junior goaltender Nick Dries.

Saint Anselm scored the only two goals of the second period to stretch the lead to 4-1. At 3:07, senior forward John Hyslip got a pass to junior defenseman Greg Merrill in the high slot. The latter wound and rifled a shot to the top-right corner for his fourth goal of the year. At 7:44, O'Brien made two saves, but the Franklin Pierce defense could not corral and clear the puck. Senior forward Bryan Luther eventually put away a rebound for his fifth of the season, off assists from Tebano and sophomore forward Johnny Daniels.

Within the second period, Franklin Pierce generated multiple scoring chances on a power play in the middle of the frame. Later, on another power play, senior forward Dino Federico (Canton, Mass.) rang a shot off the pipe. Nonetheless, the Ravens came up empty in the middle stanza and headed to the third period facing a three-goal deficit.

By the end of the game, Saint Anselm was whistled for 10 minor penalties, leading to nine power-play chances for Franklin Pierce, and the Hawks continued the parade to the penalty box in the final period, taking four penalties in the first 11:24 of the third. The Ravens finally cashed a power-play chance at 11:37, on a two-man advantage. Skating towards the left-wing corner behind the net, Sweeney cycled the puck back to graduate student forward Anthony Chighisola (Whitman, Mass.) below the goal line in the right-wing corner. Chighisola flipped a pass to the top of the crease to a cutting Carr, who scored his team-leading 11th of the season as he slipped the puck between Dries' pads.

The goal would provide the final points of storied careers for both Sweeney and Chighisola, who finish their time in crimson and grey one-two in program annals in scoring. Sweeney (37-55-92) leaves as the program's all-time leader in points and assists, while Chighisola (42-48-90) leaves as the school's all-time leader in goals.

Franklin Pierce looked to convert the goal into momentum and mount a late comeback, but Saint Anselm put that idea to rest 3:07 later, when it capped the scoring to create the 5-2 final. Junior forward Eric Czapka had the puck behind the net and stepped towards the left-wing side to toss a pass out in front of the crease, where freshman forward Bryan Sullivan was waiting to salt away his fifth goal of the season.

O'Brien made 41 saves on the afternoon, but was stuck with the loss (7-5-1) in net for Franklin Pierce. Dries made 19 stops to pick up the win (10-2-0) between the pipes for Saint Anselm.

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).