Highlights

WINCHENDON, Mass. (January 30, 2018) – It was an offensive eruption on Tuesday night at the Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. The Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team and Post combined for five first-period goals, on the way to an 11-goal bonanza in a non-conference contest. In the end, Franklin Pierce prevailed, 7-4, behind two goals each from sophomore forward Cameron Shepardson (Albany, N.Y.) and junior defenseman Jack Williams (Suffield, Conn.), as well as a four-point night (1-3-4) from senior co-captain forward Jonathan Haun (Buffalo, N.Y.).

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 6-14-1, while Post falls to 2-15-1.

Post got the evening's parade of goals started with a power-play marker at the 4:06 mark of the first period. Freshman forward Evan Lugo had the finish on his eighth of the year from the bottom of the right circle, after a feed across the slot from sophomore forward Tyler Hackett. Sophomore defenseman Lucas Smith provided an assist as well.

Franklin Pierce evened things up 2:20 later, with a power-play goal of its own at the 6:36 mark. Junior forward Nicholas Fotiu (Falmouth, Mass.) worked the puck to sophomore forward Alex Lester (Methuen, Mass.) in the right circle, and the latter slipped a pass across the slot from there. Williams was on hand at the left post to salt away his fifth goal of the campaign.

The Ravens took a 2-1 lead at 13:14, after Shepardson intercepted a pass in the neutral zone. He took off down the left-wing side and ultimately took his shot from the bottom of the left circle. The puck slipped between the pads of Post freshman goaltender Nick Levesque for Shepardson's seventh goal of the year.

The lead was short-lived, as Post made it 2-2 just 58 seconds later. Sophomore forward Noah Wild provided a centering feed from the left-wing corner for freshman forward Costa Pizanis, whose shot popped up and over Franklin Pierce senior goaltender Austin Christopher (Winthrop, Maine) and fell into the net. Junior defenseman Brian Hurley assisted as well on Pizanis' first collegiate goal, at 14:12.

Franklin Pierce jumped to a 3-2 lead before the first intermission, at 17:18. Senior forward David Wilcox (Stillwater, Maine) snapped home a shot from the top of the right circle for his sixth of the season, off of assists from junior forward Nate Indelicato (Pembroke, Mass.) and Haun.

The Ravens had the only three goals of the second period, including a pair of early power-play tallies, to take control of the contest. Sophomore forward Matthew Toombs (Pleasanton, Mass.) sent a shot into traffic from the right point. The puck may have deflected off the Post defenseman out front, but either way, wound up in the back of the net for Toombs' first of the campaign. Freshman defenseman Patrick Gagliardi (Bedford, N.H.) and Haun tacked on the assists at 5:08.

Just 66 seconds later, at 6:14, Shepardson tallied what would eventually stand as the game-winning goal. He collected a rebound in the left-wing corner and banked a quick shot off the skate of Post junior netminder Devin Day and in for his second goal of the night. Fotiu and Indelicato would ultimately be credited with the assists.

The Ravens pushed the lead out to 6-2 through two periods, with another tally at 12:04. On a 3-on-2 rush into the offensive end, Wilcox wound up with the puck in the left-wing circle. He feathered a pass across the slot for Williams, who banged home his second goal of the game at the right post, while Haun added his third assist of the night.

Post opened the final period's scoring with a 5-on-3 goal at the 6:23 mark. From the right point, freshman defenseman Nolan Arbuckle sent the puck into the left circle for sophomore defenseman John Drummond. Drummond then quickly sent it back across the ice to freshman forward Anthony Giacomin in the right circle. Giacomin buried the one-timer from the right circle for his fifth goal of the season.

Another goal at 13:30 cut the gap to 6-4. After winning a battle for the puck in the neutral zone, Lugo headed into the offensive end with possession on the right-wing side. From the top of the right circle, he tucked a shot low and inside the left post for his second goal of the night.

The comeback attempt would stall there for the Eagles, as Franklin Pierce added an insurance marker just 82 seconds later, which would create the 7-4 final. The trailer on a rush into the attack zone, Haun buried a shot from the high slot for his sixth of the year at 14:52, off of helpers from sophomore defenseman Sean Munzing (Beverly, Mass.) and Fotiu.

Christopher (2-2-0) finished with 19 saves against 23 shots to pick up the win in the crease for Franklin Pierce. Levesque made just seven saves against 10 shots in the first period for Post, and was replaced by Day to start the second stanza. Day (0-3-0) made 21 saves against 25 shots the rest of the way and suffered the loss for the Eagles.

The Ravens return to the ice on Feb. 9-10, when they host Saint Anselm for a Northeast-10 Conference weekend series. Opening faceoff is set for 7:30 p.m. both nights at the 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 ice hockey apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).