Three-Goal Second Hurts Men’s Ice Hockey in 5-3 Loss to Framingham State

WINCHENDON, Mass. (November 1, 2016) – In a game which featured eight goals, as well as 20 penalties totaling 59 minutes, the Rams of Framingham State scored three times in the second period to build a lead they would not relinquish on Tuesday night, on the way to a 5-3 win over the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team. Freshman forward Jack Sheehan and sophomore forward Greg Stoya scored twice each for Framingham State, while senior defenseman Alex Schleper (Sutton, Mass.) tallied a goal and an assist in defeat for Franklin Pierce in non-conference play at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 1-1-0, while Framingham State opens its season at 1-0-0.

Framingham State struck first on Tuesday, as the two teams traded first-period goals. First, at the 5:56 mark, Stoya jammed home the Rams' first goal of the campaign, as he had the quick finish on a rebound near the left post. Freshman defenseman Brian Raimo took the original shot on the play, from the right point, while senior defenseman Vaughn Guetens added his first of three assists as well.

Franklin Pierce came up with the answer at the 13:28 mark, on the second goal in as many games to start the season for senior defenseman Taylor Fletcher (Leominster, Mass.). Fletcher took a long shot through traffic from the right point off of a faceoff. Framingham State freshman goaltender Ray Feeley got a solid piece of the shot, but the puck still got behind him and trickled over the goal line for Fletcher's second goal of the season. Freshman forward James Morrissey (West Haven, Conn.) picked up the lone assist for winning the faceoff.

The second period was all Framingham State, as the Rams struck at even strength, while shorthanded and on the power play in the stanza to surge to a 4-1 lead. First, the Rams took a 2-1 lead at the 1:47 mark, as Sheehan stuffed home the puck amid a scramble in front of the goal. Junior forward Zachary D'Errico and freshman forward Anthony DePetres were credited with the assists on the play.

Sheehan would strike again at the 6:15 mark, this time with a shorthanded tally. With the puck in the offensive end on the power play, Fletcher attempted an ill-advised pass across the blue line to his defensive partner. Sheehan easily intercepted the pass and was off on a breakaway the other way. From the slot, he snapped his second goal of the period to the top-right corner to make it 3-1.

A power-play goal at 18:55 would cap the period's scoring and send Framingham State into the locker room with a 4-1 lead at the second intermission. Guetens fired a shot from the middle of the blue line, which was deflected en route by Stoya and got behind junior goaltender Tom McGuckin (Clayton, N.J.) for Stoya's second of the night. Sophomore forward Matt Bauchman provided an assist on the play as well.

Franklin Pierce pulled within two goals with a delayed-penalty tally early in the third. With McGuckin off for the extra attacker with the penalty pending, junior forward Blake Manginell (Troy, Mich.) got the puck to Schleper at the right point. Schleper took a shot from there, which was redirected on the way by sophomore forward Nick Indelicato (Pembroke, Mass.), for the latter's second goal of the season, at the 3:29 mark.

Framingham State reclaimed the three-goal lead with a 5-on-3 goal at the 11:25 mark. From the right point, sophomore defenseman Hayden Lyle slipped a pass across the slot to Bauchman, who was able to turn and finish from the edge of the left circle. Guetens had his third assist of the night on the goal.

Franklin Pierce picked up a two-man-advantage goal of its own at the 16:12 mark to create the 5-3 final. Junior forward Jonathan Haun (Buffalo, N.Y.) sent the puck to Schleper at the middle of the blue line. The latter fired from there and put his shot through traffic and to the back of the net for his first goal of the season. Franklin Pierce got McGuckin to the bench for an extra attacker for the final 98 seconds, but was unable to generate any further offense.

McGuckin (1-1-0) finished with 25 saves against 30 shots between the pipes for Franklin Pierce. Feeley (1-0-0) stopped 20 of 23 shots at the other end of the ice for Framingham State.

The Ravens return to the ice on Friday, Nov. 4, when they travel to Southern New Hampshire to open the Northeast-10 Conference portion of their schedule. Opening faceoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Ice Den in Hooksett, N.H.

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).