Six-Goal Second Buries Men’s Ice Hockey in 10-3 Loss to Stonehill

Cornele posts third career multi-goal game

WINCHENDON, Mass. (November 30, 2013) – Sophomore forward Robbie Dorgan went for four points on two goals and two assists on Saturday night to lead the way for Stonehill in a 10-3 win over the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team in Northeast-10 Conference play at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. Senior defenseman Tyler Cornele (Cape Coral, Fla.) scored twice in the losing effort for Franklin Pierce, his first multiple-goal game since Nov. 16, 2011 at Assumption.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 1-5-1 (0-2-1 Northeast-10), while Stonehill improves to 4-3-0 (3-0-0 Northeast-10). The 10-spot marked the first time the Ravens allowed their opponent to reach double digits since Nov. 10, 2010 in a 10-3 loss at Nichols. It was the first 10-goal game against on home ice since an 11-3 loss at the hands of Becker on Jan. 24, 2009. For Stonehill, it was the first 10-goal outburst since a 10-4 win against Southern New Hampshire on Feb. 18, 2010, and the first away from home since an 11-3 triumph at Nichols on Nov. 13, 2002.

The first period was a relatively standard affair, with Stonehill taking a 2-1 advantage and each side scoring on its only power-play chance. The Skyhawks opened the scoring just 62 seconds in on a tic-tac-toe passing play. With the puck near the right point, sophomore forward Dan Graham sent a pass to Dorgan in the left-wing circle, and Dorgan immediately fired a pass back across the slot. Sophomore forward Richard Harris was waiting on the other end to one-time home his third goal of the season. Later, Stonehill made it 2-0 with a power-play marker just 10 seconds after freshman defenseman Shane Dowd (Holden, Mass.) was whistled for holding at 10:30, the only Franklin Pierce penalty of the evening. In the play shortly after the faceoff, Harris set up Dorgan for the latter's fifth goal of the campaign at the 10:40 mark.

At 15:44, Dorgan would take a hooking penalty in the neutral zone, and Franklin Pierce converted 36 seconds later for its first power-play goal of the season on its 23rd chance with the man-advantage. Senior forward Bryan Colella (Medfield, Mass.) and sophomore forward Brendan Glynn (Quincy, Mass.) both picked up assists as they set up Cornele's second score of the year.

It all came undone for Franklin Pierce in the middle stanza, as the Ravens surrendered six goals while putting home only two of their own as Stonehill would take an 8-3 advantage into the second intermission. The Skyhawks started the busy frame at the 3:56 mark, as sophomore defenseman Brian Furey sent the puck from the right point over the left point where senior defenseman Andrew Miller teed up a shot. Sophomore forward Thomas Jenkins was able to redirect it en route for his first goal of the season. Just 43 seconds later, Stonehill pushed the lead to 4-1 at 4:39. Junior defenseman Brendan Greene and Dorgan would pick up the helpers on the second of the season for sophomore defenseman Travis Army.

Just over three minutes later, Franklin Pierce turned the puck over in the neutral zone and a quick pass by Graham was able to spring Dorgan all alone into the offensive end. Dorgan netted his second of the game on the breakaway at 7:50 to make it 5-1. The third Stonehill goal in just 3:54 would prompt the Franklin Pierce bench to use its timeout in an attempt to apply a proverbial tourniquet. It also spelled the end of the night for sophomore goaltender Kyle Moran (Marshfield, Mass.), who was lifted in favor of freshman Nick Hegarty (Saugus, Mass.), who made his collegiate debut.

The Ravens would briefly stop the bleeding with a score at 8:40, just 50 seconds after Dorgan's second of the night. With an offensive-zone faceoff, junior forward Tim Sullivan (Rye, N.H.) won the puck cleanly back to freshman defenseman Alex Schleper (Sutton, Mass.) at the right point. Schleper got a shot through traffic which found the back of the net for his first collegiate goal.

After the midpoint of the middle period, Stonehill popped two goals in 52 seconds, as well as three in a span of 5:41, to effectively put the game away. At 10:24, the tandem of Rooney and sophomore forward Nate Soter set up sophomore defenseman Connor Fallon at the left point. The latter sent a shot through traffic which slipped between's Hegarty's pads for Fallon's second of the year. Less than a minute later, the Skyhawks generated a situation where they outnumbered the Ravens down low in the offensive end. Junior forward Stephen Balsamo was able to find sophomore forward Willy Baker, who was unmarked in the slot. Baker one-timed his second of the season into the top-right corner, while Army picked up his second point of the night with the other assist.

At 16:05, Stonehill capped its six-goal period after Rooney sent the puck to Soter in the high slot. Soter's first attempt to put the puck on net was blocked by the defense, but it caromed directly back to his stick and he salted the second chance away for his second goal of the season.

Franklin Pierce was able to stop the three-goal run 82 seconds later, at the 17:27 mark, on Cornele's second goal of the night. Again, the goal came directly off a faceoff, as senior forward Ted Walsh (Quincy, Mass.) won a draw back to Cornele at the left point and the latter put home a shot from there. For Cornele, it was the third multiple-goal game of his career.

Stonehill popped home the only two goals of the third period to create the 10-3 final. At 1:37, Baker scored his third of the season, a shorthanded tally after springing himself on his own partial breakaway down the right-wing side and snapping a shot past Hegarty. The Baker goal was the end of Hegarty's night, as sophomore James Dunn (Quincy, Mass.) took over for the final 18:23, making his collegiate debut as well. Dunn would be beaten only once, at 17:01, just two seconds after Franklin Pierce's seventh and final power play of the night went by the boards. With the penalty expiring, sophomore forward Thomas Jenkins sent a pass out of his own end which sent Balsamo off on a breakaway. The latter beat Dunn for his second goal of the campaign.

Moran played the first 27:50 in net, made 10 saves against 15 shots and took the loss (1-3-0) for Franklin Pierce. Over the next 13:47, Hegarty made eight saves against 12 shots, while Dunn stopped four of the five shots he faced the rest of the way. At the other end, freshman Patrick Farrington made his collegiate debut, made 35 saves against 38 shots and picked up the win (1-0-0) between the pipes for Stonehill.

The Ravens return to the ice on Saturday, Dec. 7, when they remain home to host Suffolk in a non-conference contest. Opening faceoff is set for 7 p.m. at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena.

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).