Men’s Ice Hockey Succumbs at Post, 8-2

SHELTON, Conn. (January 12, 2018) – Things started slowly for the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team on Friday night, as the Ravens fell behind 2-0 on the road at Post in the first period. A stronger second period allowed the crimson and grey to keep the deficit at just two goals heading into the third period at the Sports Center of Connecticut. However, the wheels fell off in the third period, as the Ravens surrendered a quartet of goals and were dealt an 8-2 loss by the Eagles in non-conference play.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 3-10-1, while Post picked up its first win of the season to improve to 1-12-0. The two teams will meet again on Saturday night to wrap up the weekend series. Opening faceoff is set for 7:15 p.m. at Sports Center of Connecticut.

For Post, which is in just its second season as a varsity program, the victory marked the team's first win in NCAA play. The win snapped a 24-game losing streak by the Eagles to open their varsity existence. The eight goals represented a program high-water mark, eclipsing a five-goal outing in a 6-5, overtime loss to Bryn Athyn earlier this season, on Nov. 4.

The Eagles scored the first period's only two goals on Friday night. First, freshman forward Evan Lugo picked up his sixth goal of the season, as he took a shot from a sharp angle, which he banked off of Franklin Pierce senior goaltender Tom McGuckin (Clayton, N.J.) and into the net to open the scoring. Sophomore forward Tyler Hackett and sophomore defenseman Lucas Smith provided the assists at 12:02.

A goal in the final minute of the period -- one of two such goals the Ravens would surrender on the night -- pushed the Eagles' lead to 2-0 before the first intermission. Hackett tallied his sixth goal of the campaign as well, as he toe-dragged his way into the slot and wired a shot to the top shelf over McGuckin. Lugo and junior defenseman Brian Hurley picked up the assists at 19:22.

Lugo made it a two-goal night with a power-play marker at 3:43 of the second period to make it a 3-0 game. He had the finish at the right post, while freshman forward Jake Raleigh and junior defenseman Garrett Weitzel provided the assists.

Franklin Pierce got a pair of goals from sophomore forward James Morrissey (West Haven, Conn.) -- his first career multiple-goal game -- to cut the cap down to 3-2 late in the second period. First, he forced a turnover by the Eagles in their own defensive end, carried into the slot and snapped a shot to the top shelf. Morrissey's second of the year came unassisted at 5:05.

Morrissey struck again at 16:14 to cut the deficit to one goal. This time, he slipped home a shot from a sharp angle on the left-wing side after a rebound kicked out from a scramble in the goalmouth. Sophomore forward Shepheard Stahel (Plano, Texas) picked up the lone assist on the play.

The Ravens were unable to hold the gap at one into the second intermission, as Post struck with just 17 seconds remaining, to make it a 4-2 game. Leading a rush into the zone down the left-wing side, Hackett took care of business himself and picked the top corner for his second goal of the night. Assists came from Smith and freshman defenseman Nolan Arbuckle at 19:43.

The Eagles took control of the game for good early in the third, as they potted a pair of goals in the first two minutes to open the lead up to 6-2. The first of the two came on the power play at 1:47. Hurley took a shot from the middle of the blue line, and freshman forward Anthony Giacomin got his stick to the puck in front of the net to deflect home his second goal of the campaign. Arbuckle added an assist on the play as well.

Just nine seconds later, at 1:56, Smith made it a three-point night (1-2-3) with his second goal of the year. He snapped home a shot from the right-wing side, off of assists from senior forward Chris Harris and freshman forward Kieran Hurley.

The Eagles added a pair of goals down the stretch to create the 8-2 final. Brian Hurley put away his third of the season at 15:11 and then made it a four-point game (1-3-4) by assisting on the game's final goal, as Hackett capped his hat trick, and his own four-point night (3-1-4), at 18:13. It marked the first hat trick in the varsity history of Post's program.

McGuckin (2-7-1) finished with 29 saves against 37 shots in a losing effort in the crease for Franklin Pierce. At the other end of the ice, freshman netminder Brandon Brown (1-9-0) made 43 saves against 45 shots to pick up the win in net for Post.

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 ice hockey apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).