Ravens return home to host Morrisville State over the weekend

BURRILLVILLE, R.I. (December 11, 2013) – Junior forward Joe Sposit scored three goals and added an assist to pace three Nichols players with at least three points on Wednesday night, as the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team fell on the road, 9-1, at Levy Rink in non-conference play. Junior forward Tim Sullivan (Rye, N.H.) scored the lone goal in defeat for Franklin Pierce.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 1-7-1 (0-2-1 Northeast-10), while Nichols improves to 7-1-2 (3-1-1 ECAC Northeast). Nichols enjoyed a 44-20 shots advantage in the game, including 17-3 in a four-goal second period.

Nichols put home the only goal of the first period in the latter portions of the stanza. Sophomore forwards Frank Butler and Tyler Beasley teamed to set up the first career goal for freshman defenseman Rob Belger.

The Bison broke things open with four goals in a span of 6:47 through the middle of the second period to take a 5-0 lead into the second intermission. Sposit notched his first of two goals in the period, and his third goal of the season, at the 7:39 mark, off assists from senior forward Greg Strootman and freshman forward Sean Swanson. Only 54 seconds later, sophomore forward Sean Fleming and senior forward Rick Batenburg dished out the helpers on the first of the season for senior defenseman Josh DeLoach.

At the 12:02 mark, Nichols pushed the lead to 4-0, as Sposit converted on the power play, while Beasley and junior defenseman Kyle Shapiro picked up assists. Another 2:24 later, Strootman netted his second goal of the campaign to make it 5-0. Sposit had the primary assist for his third point of the night and Swanson picked up the secondary assist, his second helper of the game.

Nichols continued to stretch the lead early in the third period, at the 3:07 mark. Freshman forward Louis Abounader put away his first collegiate goal off an assist from junior forward Mike Schwartz. The Bison made it seven straight goals at 13:34, on the team-leading eighth of the season for sophomore forward Frank Butler, who was set up by Beasley's third helper of the night, as well as an assist from sophomore forward Paul Prescott.

Three minutes after the Butler goal, Sullivan got the Ravens on the board and made it a 7-1 game. Sullivan notched his third of the year, with assists going to freshman forward Brett Oldaker (Canonsburg, Pa.) and senior forward Ilester Little (Dallas, Texas) at 16:34.

Nichols would tack on two goals in the game's final minute to create the 9-1 final. At 19:11, Sposit finished off his hat trick, with assists going to Batenburg and Belger. Finally, at 19:36, Belger and freshman defenseman Matt Rasamowicz had the assists on the second of the night for Abounader.

Senior goaltender Dave O'Brien (Groton, Mass.) made 25 saves against 30 shots over the first two periods and ultimately took the loss (0-4-1), before being lifted in favor of sophomore Kyle Moran (Marshfield, Mass.). Moran made 10 saves against 14 shots in the third. At the other end, senior Dylan Woodring made 19 saves to pick up the win (1-0-0) between the pipes for Franklin Pierce. Woodring is the younger brother of former Franklin Pierce forward -- and three-time Northeast-10 Academic All-Conference selection -- Sean Woodring '11.

The Ravens return to the ice on Friday, Dec. 13, when they return home to host Morrisville State in a non-conference contest. Opening faceoff is set for 5 p.m. at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena in Winchendon, Mass.

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).