Hot Start Quickly Goes Cold For Men's Hockey Against Saint Michael's, 6-4

Hot Start Quickly Goes Cold For Men's Hockey Against Saint Michael's, 6-4

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (1/20/23) – The Franklin Pierce men's hockey team built an early lead on the road against host Saint Michael's College on Friday evening, but continued to falter in the second period against the Purple Knights as they drop their seventh straight decision, 6-4 at Cairns Arena.  

The Ravens remain winless through the month of January, and fall to 8-12-0 (5-5 NE10) on the season. Saint Michael's improves to 7-8-1 (6-4-1 NE10) following the win.

The opening frame saw three goals scored by the Ravens, all within a span of seven minutes. Junior forward Cody Rumsey (York, Pa.) got things started at 10:30 after firing a tough angle shot that caromed in off Purple Knights starter Marshall Murphy, notching his third goal of the season from Ryan Bailey (Atlanta, Ga.). Just over two minutes later, senior Dom Norris (Thurmont, Md.) one-timed a feed to the left circle from Anthony Nikolopoulos (Burlington, Mass.) that just squeeked through Murphy's five-hole to extend the Pierce lead to 2-0 with under 10:00 left in the first. At the 17:26 mark, the Ravens tripled their lead after Jackson Dobek (Natick, Mass.) found a home for the puck off a feed from behind the Purple Knight net by freshman Devin Rohrich (Pittsburgh, Pa.), sending Pierce to the locker rooms with a 3-0 lead.

However, things rapidly unraveled for the Ravens in the second period as Saint Michael's scored a trio of goals within a three minute span, drawing even at the 7:48 mark on a goal by forward Matt Schreiner. In the final minute, the explosive second period would be capped off on a go-ahead goal by Owen Rudicus, who picked the top corner from the high slot off a Raven turnover to give the Knights their first lead of the evening.

Midway through the third period, defenseman Vito Carlo (Las Vegas, Nev.) brought some life back into the Ravens' game with the equalizer goal at 8:23, beating relief netminder Cole Manahan for his fourth of the season from Devin Rorich and Michael Flaherty (Rockland, Mass.). But Saint Michael's had other plans nearing the final five minutes, and reclaimed their lead on a partial breakaway goal from Jack McDonald who buried the shot in close to Raven starter Brogan McDonald (Gorham, Maine), with the helpers going to Ryland Dukes & David Ciancio.

Quinn McCarthy's empty netter at 19:28 completed the comeback night for Saint Michael's, and rounded out the 6-4 final score from South Burlington.

Brogan McDonald shoulders his fifth loss on the season (1-5-0) after surrendered five goals on 33 total shots faced in the effort for Pierce. In relief, Cole Manahan (2-3-0) grabs the win for the Purple Knights, making 18 saves on 19 shots. Purple Knights starter Marshall Murphy played through the first period of the contest, stopping 3-of-6 shots.

Men's hockey will look to stop the bleeding with one more contest against the Purple Knights tomorrow (1/21/23) afternoon, right back at Cairns Arena for a 4:00 p.m. faceoff.