Sullivan pushes point streak to four games (4-4-8)

WORCESTER, Mass. (January 25, 2014) – Freshman forward Aaron Blaker (Rolling Meadows, Ill.) scored twice and added an assist on Saturday night, while junior forward Tim Sullivan (Rye, N.H.) added a goal and two assists as the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team came away with a 6-4 victory in a wild Northeast-10 Conference affair against Assumption at Buffone Rink. Senior forward Kyle Zobler and junior forward Trevor Plante had a goal and an assist each in defeat for Assumption.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 4-12-1 (2-4-1 Northeast-10), while Assumption falls to 3-13-2 (0-6-1 Northeast-10). The win also allows Franklin Pierce to take the three-game season series, 2-0-1, after a 3-3 tie in Winchendon on Nov. 9 and a 3-2 win in Worcester on Jan. 4. With the series win, the Ravens earn two points in the Northeast-10 standings.

Franklin Pierce scored the first period's only two goals, one each in the stanza's first and final minutes. Assumption took an early penalty, as junior defenseman Joe Arcieri was whistled for charging just 21 seconds into the proceedings. The Ravens needed just 19 seconds to cash in on the power play, as Blaker opened the scoring at the 40-second mark with his fourth of the season. Sullivan and freshman defenseman Alex Schleper (Sutton, Mass.) provided the assists on the first of two power-play goals for Franklin Pierce on the night.

The two clubs combined for 19 minor penalties in the game, which made for 19 power-play chances, though some were of the abbreviated variety. Franklin Pierce finished 2-for-8 on the power play, while Assumption went 2-for-11 and allowed a shorthanded goal, albeit an empty-netter.

In the final minute of the opening period, the Ravens made it 2-0 on the first of the season for senior defenseman Kyle Craig (Quincy, Mass.). Sullivan picked up his second helper of the night and freshman forward Brett Oldaker (Canonsburg, Pa.) added the other at 19:04.

Franklin Pierce pushed the lead to 3-0 early in the second period, 27 seconds into a power-play chance, after sophomore forward Brendan McDonough took a hooking penalty at 2:24. Sullivan converted on the man-advantage with his team-leading seventh goal of the season at 2:51 off assists from Oldaker and Blaker. For Sullivan, who factored in on each of Franklin Pierce's first three goals, his point streak extends to four games (4-4-8).

Franklin Pierce got into a bit of penalty trouble after the Sullivan goal, as freshman defenseman Matthew Geib (Cleveland, Ohio) was called for tripping at 3:48 and junior defenseman Brendan FitzPatrick (Winthrop, Mass.) took a seat for hitting after the whistle at 5:17, leaving Assumption with 31 seconds of two-man advantage. The Ravens were able to kill off the five-on-three, but before Geib could get back in the play, Assumption netted a power-play goal just two seconds later at 5:50. Junior defenseman Ben Kuzma and sophomore forward Alex Erban had the assists on Zobler's fourth of the season.

Things settled down through the middle of the second stanza, before Franklin Pierce reclaimed the three-goal lead at 4-1 on the first career goal for freshman forward Michael Marchionda (Hyde Park, Mass.) at 12:29. Geib had the lone assist on the play.

The Greyhounds responded just 43 seconds later with the first of two goals in 58 seconds, as Assumption closed within a goal at 4-3. First, at 13:12, senior forward Ross White finished off his fourth of the season, while Erban and Zobler provided the assists. Next, at 14:10, Plante chalked up his second of the season by finishing off an assist from junior forward Brennen Shaw.

The Ravens were able to escape the second period with the one-goal lead still intact, regrouped during the intermission and picked up an important insurance marker at the 2:19 mark of the third period. Blaker struck again, for what would ultimately stand as the game-winning goal, with Schleper adding his second assist of the night.

The third period turned into a conga line to the penalty box from there, with six penalties being assessed over the next five minutes, three to each team. All six went by the boards and things quieted down again until Schleper was sent to the box for tripping at 14:35. Assumption utilized the power play to close to within a goal once again on the team-leading eighth of the season for sophomore forward Brandon Bete at 15:27. Plante and freshman forward Ryan Gomez chipped in the assists.

Just over three minutes later, Sullivan took a boarding minor, which allowed Assumption to get the goaltender to the bench for the extra attacker and a six-on-four manpower advantage in the final minute. The Greyhounds were unable to pick up the equalizer before sophomore forward Paddy Murphy (York, Maine) salted the game away with a shorthanded, empty-net goal at 19:45. Craig chipped in the assist on Murphy's first of the season.

Senior goaltender Dave O'Brien (Groton, Mass.) piled up 39 saves to pick up the win (2-9-1) in net for Franklin Pierce, as Assumption held a slim, 43-40 shots advantage. At the other end of the ice, freshman Nick Commesso made 34 saves and took the loss (1-3-1) between the pipes for Assumption.

The Ravens return to the ice on Tuesday, Jan. 28, when they travel to Framingham State for a non-conference contest. Opening faceoff is set for 7:20 at Loring Arena in Framingham, Mass. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on Saturday, Feb. 1 against Stonehill at 8 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).