FitzPatrick adds assist

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (November 2, 2013) – Sophomore forward Doug Usseglio (Waltham, Mass.) opened the scoring at 10:40 of the first period on Saturday afternoon, but Salve Regina found the next three goals and sent the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team to a 3-2 loss in non-conference play at Portsmouth Abbey Ice Rink. Sophomore forward Marc Biggs had a goal and an assist in the win for Salve Regina.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 0-2-0 (0-0-0 Northeast-10), while Salve Regina opens its season at 1-0-0 (0-0-0 ECAC Northeast).

Franklin Pierce struggled out of the gate, as Salve Regina piled up a 15-4 advantage in shots in the first period, but it was the Ravens who found the stanza's only goal. Shortly after the midway point of the frame, senior forward Ted Walsh (Quincy, Mass.) pressured the puck-carrier and forced a turnover. Walsh was able to flip the puck to Usseglio, who took the quick pass and finished off his first goal of the season.

Outside of the Usseglio goal, the first period was largely uneventful, and much of the second was as well, before Salve Regina potted a pair of goals in the period's final four minutes to take a 2-1 lead it would never relinquish. Making his collegiate debut, freshman forward Parker Bowen tracked down a puck in traffic in front of the net and scored his first career goal off assists from sophomore forward Peter Gintoli and freshman forward Jonathan Felteau at 16:13. Later, at 19:26, in the aftermath of a just-expired 4-on-4 situation, Biggs put away his first of the season off helpers from Gintoli and sophomore defenseman Alex Barr.

At the 6:40 mark of the third period, with sophomore forward Paddy Murphy (York, Maine) in the box for interference, Salve Regina finished off its scoring on the day, with senior defenseman Chad Hollenshade picking up the eventual game-winner. Biggs and junior forward John Scorcia picked up the assists on the power-play tally.

Less than three minutes after the Hollenshade goal, at 9:36, Franklin Pierce would get back on the board an cut the gap to 3-2. Walsh notched his second point of the night with his first goal of the season. The goal came shortly after the Ravens won an offensive-zone faceoff, with Usseglio and junior defenseman Brendan FitzPatrick (Winthrop, Mass.) picking up assists.

Unfortunately for the Ravens, that would be the end of the day's scoring, as they never could find the game-tying goal down the stretch. When all was said and done, Salve Regina held a 37-20 edge in shots on the day.

Senior goaltender Dave O'Brien (Groton, Mass.) piled up 34 saves on the afternoon, but suffered the loss (0-2-0) in net for Franklin Pierce anyway. Junior Jake Williams made 18 stops to pick up the win (1-0-0) at the other end for Salve Regina.

The Ravens return to the ice on Thursday, Nov. 7, when they travel to Fitchburg State for a non-conference contest. Opening faceoff is set for 7 p.m. at Wallace Civic Center in Fitchburg, Mass. 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).