Resurgent Power Play Leads Men’s Ice Hockey in 4-2 Win at SNHU

Murphy adds 1-1-2

HOOKSETT, N.H. (December 2, 2014) – Sophomore forward Connor Mauro (Shrewsbury, Mass.) scored a pair of power-play goals and the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team's man-advantage finished 3-for-9 on Tuesday night on the way to a 4-2 win over Southern New Hampshire in Northeast-10 Conference play at The Ice Den. Freshman goaltender Tom McGuckin (Clayton, N.J.) made his first collegiate start and picked up the win in goal for the Ravens.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 2-6-0 (2-2-0 Northeast-10), while Southern New Hampshire falls to 3-5-0 (1-3-0 Northeast-10). Franklin Pierce now leads the three-game season series with the Penmen, 1-0-0, and would take the two Northeast-10 standings points for winning said series with a victory in either of the remaining two meetings between the teams. The two sides will square off again on Jan. 20 at Franklin Pierce and Feb. 10 at SNHU.

After a scoreless first period, things picked up in the second frame, as the two teams combined for four goals. The embattled Franklin Pierce power play, which entered the night at 2-for-26 (7.7%) on the season, struck twice in the middle stanza, as the Ravens built a 2-0 lead. Junior forward Brendan Glynn (Quincy, Mass.) opened the scoring at the 2:09 mark, as he put home his first goal of the campaign off an assist from freshman forward Brad Riccardi (Scarsdale, N.Y.). Mauro followed up at 11:44 with his third of the season, while junior forwards Matt Batis (Lakewood, N.Y.) and Paddy Murphy (York, Maine) provided the helpers.

Just 3:04 later, SNHU answered with its 11th power-play goal in just eight games to cut the deficit in half at 2-1. Junior forward Joe Collins picked up his fifth of the season to tie for the team lead, off an assist from fellow junior forward Jim Gabrione.

Franklin Pierce reclaimed the two-goal lead less than two minutes later, at the 16:41 mark, as Murphy made it a multiple-point night with his third goal of the season. Freshman defenseman Mitchell McLean (Marietta, Ga.) and sophomore defenseman Shane Dowd (Holden, Mass.) added the assists as the Ravens took a 3-1 lead into the second intermission.

The first half of the third frame went without further scoring, before SNHU pulled within a goal again, at 3-2. Freshman forward Kyle Valliere put home his fourth goal of the season at the 13:29 mark, with fellow freshman forward Kevin Lorcher picking up the lone assist.

Less than three minutes later, the Franklin Pierce power play struck for the third time on the night to reclaim the two-goal lead and create the 4-2 final. Mauro notched his second goal of the game, unassisted and on the man-advantage at 16:13.

McGuckin made 29 saves against 31 shots in his first collegiate start to pick up the win (1-0-0) for Franklin Pierce. Junior David Letarte finished with just 19 saves against 23 shots and took the loss (3-1-0) in goal for SNHU.

The Ravens return to the ice on Friday, Dec. 5, when they travel to Salve Regina for a non-conference contest. Opening faceoff is set for 7:35 p.m. at Portsmouth Abbey Ice Rink in Portsmouth, R.I.

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).