Glynn nets Raven goal

WINCHENDON, Mass. (November 1, 2013) – Sophomore forward Brendan Glynn (Quincy, Mass.) scored on a shorthanded breakaway early in the third period to cut a 2-0 lead in half, but it only stopped the bleeding momentarily on Friday night, as the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team surrendered three third-period goals on its way to a 4-1, season-opening loss to Johnson & Wales in non-conference play at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. Sophomore forward Cody Sarmiento scored twice and added an assist, while freshman forward Stefan Brucato scored once and dished out two assists as each finished with a three-point night in the win for Johnson & Wales.

The game was the season opener for both teams, as Franklin Pierce opens at 0-1-0 (0-0-0 Northeast-10), while Johnson & Wales starts at 1-0-0 (0-0-0 ECAC Northeast).

The first period went without a goal, as the two sides seemed to be feeling each other out, with Franklin Pierce collecting a 9-7 edge in shots on goal. Things opened up in the second period, with Johnson & Wales pouring 16 shots on senior goaltender Dave O'Brien (Groton, Mass.), while holding the Ravens to only five shots on goal. For all their work, the Wildcats were only able to find the net once in the frame, with a power-play marker to open the scoring with 4:22 to play before the second intermission. Brucato and sophomore forward Josh Obregon worked the puck to Sarmiento in the left-wing corner, and the latter had a head of steam heading behind the net. He quickly wrapped around the net and stuffed the puck under the pads of O'Brien to break the ice on the new season.

Johnson & Wales drew a boarding penalty on senior forward Ilester Little (Dallas, Texas) just seven seconds into the third period and struck on the power-play again, 1:49 into the final stanza, to double the lead to 2-0. The play developed quickly out of the right-wing corner, with Brucato and Obregon dishing out assists to Sarmiento again. This time, they worked the puck into the slot for the waiting Sarmiento, who put a one-timer away for his second goal of the night.

With the Wildcats on the power play again a few minutes later, Franklin Pierce got its only goal of the night, a shorthanded tally at 6:07. With the puck in its own end, the Johnson & Wales defense turned it over inside its own blue line on the way out of the zone. This left Glynn all alone against freshman goaltender Joey Ballmer. Glynn went to his forehand and beat the netminder for the Ravens' first goal of 2013-14.

Johnson & Wales returned the favor 7:42 later with a shorthanded marker of its own. With the Wildcats working the puck out of their own end on the penalty kill, a Franklin Pierce defenseman elected to pinch up to try to hold the zone. The pinch would prove ill-advised, as he was late getting there and got beat by JWU senior forward Justin Decowski, leading to a 2-on-1 the other way. On the rush, Decowski slipped a pass to senior forward Eddie Patterson, and the latter slotted the puck home to push the lead to 3-1.

An insurance marker just 54 seconds later created the 4-1 final. Again it was the Wildcats' top line which struck, though this time it came at even strength. Junior forward Alex Porrier sent the puck on the left half-boards to Sarmiento, who quickly slipped a pass into the middle to Brucato, who had managed to slip into the slot unmarked. With space to maneuver, Brucato put a large, sweeping deke on O'Brien, went to left post and slipped in a shot to cap his three-point night.

O'Brien, the reigning Northeast-10 Goaltender of the Year, opened his senior campaign with a 29-save effort, but took the loss (0-1-0) in front of the Franklin Pierce cage. At the other end, Ballmer turned aside 20 of the 21 shots sent his way and picked up the win (1-0-0) for Johnson & Wales.

The Ravens return to the ice on Saturday, Nov. 2, when they travel to Salve Regina for a non-conference contest. Opening faceoff is set for 4:35 p.m. at Portsmouth Abbey Ice Rink in Portsmouth, R.I. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on Saturday, Nov. 9 against Assumption at 7 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).