Ravens head for Rutland Herald Invitational next weekend

WINCHENDON, Mass. (January 5, 2013) – Junior forward Courtney Winters scored a natural hat trick and contributed an assist on Saturday afternoon as Saint Anselm defeated the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team, 5-0, at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. Sophomore forward Tiffany Herron added a goal and two assists for Saint Anselm.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 4-7-0, while Saint Anselm improves to 9-2-2 (5-1-2 ECAC East).

Saint Anselm got the only goal it would need at the 14:43 mark of the first period, when Winters sent a long pass out of her own end to Herron streaking down the right wing in the neutral zone. The feed sprung Herron on a breakaway, and she went to the backhand cutting across the goalmouth from right to left to salt the puck away for her sixth goal of the year.

The Hawks added a pair of goals in the second period to stretch the gap to 3-0. On the power play at 7:09, Winters finished off a feed from senior forward Kathryn Picarello in the corner with a one-timer. Senior forward Rosemarie Giarrusso also picked up an assist on Winters' sixth goal of the campaign. Winters struck again on a one-timer 5:05 later on assists from Herron and junior defenseman Andi Foss.

Two more goals in the third created the 5-0 final. Winters capped the hat trick 70 seconds into the stanza and Picarello put home her ninth of the season on the power play at the 9:43 mark.

Junior goaltender Amelea Gray (Bozeman, Mont.) made 24 saves against 29 shots and suffered the loss (4-7-0) in net for Franklin Pierce. Junior Lindsey Brown turned aside all 11 shots she faced to pick up the win (6-1-1) and post her third shutout of the season for Saint Anselm.

The Ravens return to the ice on Friday, Jan. 11, when they visit Castleton State on the first day of the Rutland Herald Invitational. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Spartan Arena in Castleton, Vt. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on Friday, Feb. 15 against Sacred Heart at 7 p.m.

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