WORCESTER, Mass. (January 6, 2017) – Three power-play goals against on eight chances -- including the game-winning goal -- were the difference on Friday evening, as the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team suffered a 6-3 defeat on the road at Assumption in Northeast-10 Conference play at Buffone Rink. Senior forward Stephen Picard, junior forward Cam Laughlin and senior forward Paul Amarone all scored twice each for Assumption on the night.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 6-9-1 (2-4-0 NE10), while Assumption improves to 6-8-1 (2-3-0 NE10). The two teams have now split the first two games of the three-game season series, which means the final contest will determine which side collects the two NE10 standings points up for grabs. The rubber contest will be on Feb. 11 at Franklin Pierce.

After surrendering five power-play goals a week ago in an 8-2 loss to Connecticut College, the Ravens gave up three more goals on the penalty kill on Friday evening, as Assumption cashed in thrice on eight chances with the man-advantage. It was Franklin Pierce though, which opened the scoring, with its lone power-play goal in nine chances, at the 7:09 mark of the first period. Freshman forward James Morrissey (West Haven, Conn.) took a drop pass at the top of the circle and buried his second goal of the season from there. Freshman defenseman Sean Munzing (Beverly, Mass.) and freshman forward Kyle Gosselin (Haverhill, Mass.) picked up the assists.

Assumption would strike twice in a span of 2:03 later to take a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission. Just 2:23 after the Morrissey goal, Laughlin scored his fifth goal of the campaign from the bottom of the left circle at the 9:32 mark, off a feed from sophomore defenseman Matt Damelio. Assumption's first power-play goal of the game followed at 11:35, when Amarone banged home a rebound for his fifth goal of the year, with the lone assist going to junior forward Tommy Mahoney.

The Greyhounds pushed the lead to 3-1 just 1:57 into the middle stanza, as Picard notched his fifth goal of the season, unassisted. Franklin Pierce answered at the 11:48 mark to make it 3-2, with a goal from freshman forward Matthew Toombs (Pleasanton, Calif.). Junior forward Jonathan Haun (Buffalo, N.Y.) had the assist on Toombs' third of the season.

Assumption netted the eventual game-winning goal 1:59 into the third period, on Laughlin's second of the night, which was another power-play marker. Amarone and Mahoney provided the helpers on Laughlin's sixth of the season. Franklin Pierce pulled back within a goal, at 4-3, at the 6:14 mark. Sophomore forward Nick Indelicato (Pembroke, Mass.) set up the third goal of the campaign for senior defenseman Alex Schleper (Sutton, Mass.).

After the next 10 minutes went scoreless, Assumption added an important insurance marker with just 2:26 to play, off the stick of Picard. His sixth of the year came off of assists from junior forward Mike Sorenti and junior forward Brian Farrell at the 17:34 mark. Franklin Pierce would pull senior goaltender Tom McGuckin (Clayton, N.J.) in favor of an extra attacker in the final 90 seconds, but succeeded only in allowing an empty-net goal to create the 6-3 final. Amarone notched his second of the night and sixth of the season, with Mahoney and junior defenseman Matt Cowles chipping in assists.

McGuckin (6-9-1) finished with 35 saves against 40 shots on the night in a losing effort in goal for Franklin Pierce. Meanwhile, senior Nick Commesso (2-4-0) stopped 27 of 30 shots to pick up the win at the other end of the ice for Assumption.

The Ravens return to the ice on Saturday, Jan. 7, when they travel to Suffolk for a non-conference contest. Opening faceoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at O'Neil Rink in Boston.

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' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).