Blaker, Sullivan score as well

WINCHENDON, Mass. (January 5, 2015) – Freshman forward Jonathan Haun (Buffalo, N.Y.) broke a 2-2 tie to cap a 2-on-1 rush with 8:57 to play in regulation on Monday night, as the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team escaped with a 3-2 win over Daniel Webster in exhibition play at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. Freshman forward Jonathan Lee (Staten Island, N.Y.) added a pair of assists for the Ravens, while sophomore forward Storm Adams and freshman forward Joe Hawkins scored in defeat for Daniel Webster.

After over three weeks off, Monday night's contest served as an exhibition for Franklin Pierce, in advance of the team's 12 games in the second half of the season. For Daniel Webster, which is in its final season of play at the club level, the game was the second of four contests against NCAA opponents, as the Eagles prepare to elevate to the varsity level and play as an NCAA Division III member beginning in 2015-16.

The two teams traded goals in each of the first two periods. Daniel Webster opened the scoring after the midway point of the first frame, at the 13:06 mark. Freshman forward Adam Polgar and sophomore forward Will Humfreys combined to spring Adams on a rush through the left-wing side of the neutral zone after the Eagles finished killing off a penalty. Adams snapped a shot from the top of the left-wing circle which cleanly beat Franklin Pierce junior goaltender Kyle Moran (Marshfield, Mass.), rang off the pipe and crossed the goal line.

Franklin Pierce answered with its first of two special teams goal with just 64 seconds to play in the stanza. While shorthanded, Lee wound up with the puck on the left-wing side and centered to senior forward Tim Sullivan (Rye, N.H.), who was making a cut towards the top of the crease. The Daniel Webster defense lost track of Sullivan, who was able to jam the puck home at the right post to even the game at 1-1. For Sullivan, Monday night marked a return to the ice after missing the final three games of the season's first half.

The Ravens power play struck at 5:34 of the second period to give Franklin Pierce a 2-1 lead. With Daniel Webster freshman forward Nick McNally in the box for roughing, the Ravens worked the puck to sophomore forward Connor Mauro (Shrewsbury, Mass.) in the left-wing corner. Mauro slipped the puck into the left circle for sophomore forward Paddy Murphy (York, Maine), who immediately centered for fellow sophomore forward Aaron Blaker (Rolling Meadows, Ill.). The latter promptly put the puck to the back of the net as the whole line figured in on the goal.

Daniel Webster drew even at 2-2 at the 15:36 mark of the middle frame on a tic-tac-toe passing play of its own in the attacking end. Freshman forward Jeremy Hannah got the puck to junior forward Andrew Sanders on the left-wing side. Sanders then centered for freshman forward Joe Hawkins, who beat freshman goaltender Etienne Roy (Saint-Henri, Quebec) with a one-time shot.

Locked in a tie game into the final 10 minutes, Franklin Pierce would ultimately escape with the 3-2 victory after a goal at 11:03 of the third period. Junior forward Matt Batis (Lakewood, N.Y.) got the play started by moving the puck to Lee, who then led a 2-on-1 rush into the offensive end. From the right-wing circle, Lee feathered a pass across the slot to Haun, who one-timed the puck behind sophomore goaltender Morgan Hudson for what would stand as the game-winning goal.

Moran started in net, played 31:29 for Franklin Pierce and made 14 saves against 15 shots before being replaced by Roy at the 11:29 mark of the second period, as the two split time in the exhibition. Roy logged 28:28 the rest of the way and made 11 saves against 12 shots while picking up the win. Hudson finished with 29 saves against 32 shots while suffering the loss in the crease for Daniel Webster.

The Ravens return to the ice on Saturday, Jan. 10, when they remain home to host Fitchburg State in a non-conference contest. Opening faceoff is set for 7:30 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).