Ravens head for SUNY Geneseo Friday night

WINCHENDON, Mass. (January 7, 2014) – Senior goaltender Dave O'Brien (Groton, Mass.) came up with 33 saves on Tuesday night, but it would not be enough, as the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team dropped a 3-0 decision to Saint Anselm in Northeast-10 Conference play at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. Senior forward Eric Czapka scored the game-winning goal early in the first period for Saint Anselm.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 2-9-1 (1-3-1 Northeast-10), while Saint Anselm improves to 4-5-2 (3-0-0 Northeast-10). The Hawks enjoyed a 36-17 advantage in shots in the game.

Saint Anselm opened the scoring with two goals in the first two minutes and held the lead the rest of the way. The only goal the Hawks would need came 82 seconds into the proceedings, when Czapka slipped home his second goal of the season on a sharp-angle shot from the right-wing side. Junior forward Johnny Daniels picked up the assist on the play.

Just 13 seconds later, at the 1:35 mark, junior forward Kody Grondin quickly pushed it to 2-0 with his third goal of the season. Grondin finished a one-timer inside the right post after a feed through the slot from the left-wing side by sophomore forward Mark Meads.

Saint Anselm made it 3-0 at the 8:14 mark to complete the first-period outburst, as a two-on-one rush developed as the Hawks moved into the attack zone. Again the feed came from the left, this time from senior forward Joe Tebano, who found fellow senior forward Kevin Vanous for the latter's fourth of the campaign. The goal would wind up capping the scoring, as the game's remaining 51:46 went without another marker.

O'Brien piled up 33 saves in net for Franklin Pierce, but was ultimately stuck with the loss (1-6-1). At the other end, senior Nick Dries stopped all 17 shots he faced to pick up the win (3-2-2) and his second shutout of the season between the pipes for Saint Anselm.

The Ravens return to the ice on Friday, Jan. 10, when they travel to SUNY Geneseo for a non-conference contest. Opening faceoff is set for 7 p.m. at Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena in Geneseo, N.Y. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on Wednesday, Jan. 15 against SUNY Fredonia at 2 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).