McCarron now has five points in last four games (4-1-5)

MANCHESTER, N.H. (December 4, 2012) – Senior defenseman Brendan McCarron (Andover, Mass.) notched a goal and an assist on Tuesday evening, but the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team was defeated, 5-3, by Saint Anselm in Northeast-10 Conference play at Sullivan Arena. Sophomore forward Johnny Daniels scored twice in the victory for Saint Anselm.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 4-4-0 (2-1-0 Northeast-10), while Saint Anselm improves to 5-2-1 (3-0-0). With the victory, the Hawks earn the two points in the Northeast-10 standings for winning the season series, which is one game to allow for Saint Anselm's ECAC East schedule. Saint Anselm held a 53-24 advantage in shots on goal in the game.

Saint Anselm struck first on the evening, just 3:26 into the contest, with the only goal of the first period. Daniels tallied his third goal of the season, while junior forward Joe Tebano and senior forward Tucker Mullin added the assists.

Goals in the first and final minute of a period are often cited as momentum-building goals in hockey, and the Ravens found one of each in the second to take a 2-1 lead into the second intermission. Just 25 seconds into the stanza, senior forward Sean Dunn (Quincy, Mass.) turned a feed from senior forward Adam Dallaire (Waltham, Mass.) into his first goal of the campaign. On the power play in the latter stages of the frame, just two seconds before the horn, McCarron netted his fifth goal of the year, while senior defenseman Wes Russell (Marlboro, Mass.) provided the assist. The fifth goal, in just the eighth game of the season, gives McCarron more goals than he has had in any of his previous three seasons.

Franklin Pierce pushed the lead to 3-1 just 2:10 into the third period, when senior forward Michael Carr (South Boston, Mass.) scored his third of the season, with McCarron picking up the assist. However, it would be the last goal of the day for the Ravens, and Saint Anselm set out on its furious comeback near the midway point of the period. At the 9:52 mark, Tebano pulled the Hawks within a goal with his second of the season, with Mullin and junior defenseman Alex Pascal contributing the assists. Just 77 seconds later, the lead was erased completely, as senior forward Mike Richard had his ninth goal of the season set up by senior forward Tim King and junior defenseman Greg Merrill.

The Richard goal prompted Head Coach Jaymie Harrington to use his timeout in an attempt to stop the bleeding and, at the time, the efforts appeared successful. The game remained tied into the final three minutes, with Saint Anselm taking its timeout with 2:21 to play in regulation.

The Hawks would strike for the game-winning goal with just 1:57 showing on the clock. Sophomore forward Liam McKillop picked up his sixth goal of the year off an assist from Richard. Daniels later iced the game with an empty-net goal with seven seconds to play.

Junior goaltender Dave O'Brien (Groton, Mass.) made 48 saves, his second straight outing of 45 saves or more, but was stuck with the loss (2-1-0) in net for Franklin Pierce. Junior goaltender Robert Kang stopped 21 shots to earn the win (3-2-1) between the pipes for Saint Anselm.

The Ravens return to the ice on Saturday, Dec. 8, when they close out the semester by traveling to Salve Regina for a non-conference contest. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. at St. George's School Ice Rink in Middletown, R.I.

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).