Chighisola nets first goal in nearly two years

WINCHENDON, Mass. (November 16, 2012) – Graduate student forward Anthony Chighisola (Whitman, Mass.), who returned to the ice last weekend after missing his senior season due to injury, scored his first goal since Dec. 11, 2010 on Friday night, but the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team was defeated, 3-1, by SUNY Canton in non-conference play at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. Senior forward Corey Frizell dished out two assists in the win for SUNY Canton.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 2-2-0 (1-0-0 Northeast-10), while SUNY Canton improves to 3-3-0. Canton proved opportunistic on the night, going 2-for-4 on the power play to come up with the victory despite being outshot, 35-28.

Franklin Pierce opened the scoring at the 11:12 mark of the first period with its lone power-play goal in four chances with the man-advantage. While working on a 5-on-3 advantage, senior forward Roscoe Sweeney (Falmouth, Mass.) sent the puck to senior defenseman Brendan McCarron (Andover, Mass.) at the top of the right circle. McCarron sent the puck towards the net and Chighisola deflected it en route to notch his first goal in over 23 months.

The lead would be short-lived, as Canton struck with a power-play tally of its own at the 15:51 mark to tie the game at 1-1. Sophomore defenseman Greg Kmiotek took a shot from the right circle that was turned aside, but freshman forward Nils Semjonovs jammed home the rebound for his second goal of the season.

The Kangaroos would take the lead and then create the 3-1 final with a pair of goals 2:14 apart in the second stanza. First, at the 11:24 mark, Frizell and freshman forward Vance Bridgman set up senior forward John Payne for the eventual game-winner at the bottom of the left circle. Franklin Pierce senior goaltender Pat Dunn (Quincy, Mass.) got in position on the attempt, but the shot handcuffed him and he could not control it as the puck trickled behind him and into the net.

Bridgman capped the scoring at the 13:38 mark with a power-play goal. He deflected a shot by junior defenseman Cory Giczewski from the right point, while Frizell added an assist as well.

Dunn made 25 saves against 28 shots and took the loss (2-2-0) in net for Franklin Pierce. Sophomore Morgan Barr turned aside 34 of the 35 shots on his net to pick up the win (2-1-0) between the pipes for SUNY Canton.

The Ravens return to the ice on Saturday, Nov. 17, when they remain home for the second game of the weekend set with SUNY Canton. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena.

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).