Ravens play at noon Saturday in consolation game

RUTLAND, Vt. (January 11, 2013) – The Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team could not overcome a 37-16 shots on goal deficit on Friday afternoon, as it suffered a 4-0 defeat at the hands of host Castleton State on the first day of the Rutland Herald Invitational at Spartan Arena. Castleton State's balanced attack produced four different goal scorers in the contest.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 4-8-0, while Castleton State improves to 7-4-1 (4-2-1 (ECAC East). Franklin Pierce will play at noon Saturday in the consolation game of the Rutland Herald Invitational against the loser of Friday night's game between Holy Cross and Sacred Heart. Castleton State advances to the championship game at 3 p.m. against the winner of Friday's second game.

Castleton State picked up one goal in each of the first two periods on the way to the victory. Sophomore forward Molly Howard found the only goal the Spartans would need at 9:52 of the first, when she picked up her first of the season, unassisted. At 12:05 of the second, senior forward Hanna Martini's second goal of the year doubled the lead to 2-0, as she found the back of the net on the power play off an assist from fellow senior forward Jade Werger.

Junior forward Allie Howard struck on the power play at 9:58 of the third stanza to stretch the lead to 3-0. Freshman forwards Nicoline Jensen and Anna Daniels had the helpers on Howard's second goal of the campaign. The Spartans capped the scoring and created the 4-0 final with just 14 seconds to play. Sophomore forward BriAnna Narodowy scored her fourth of the season, while junior forward Allie Howard and sophomore forward Jenna Duggan picked up the assists.

Junior goaltender Amelea Gray (Bozeman, Mont.) started, made 29 saves against 32 shots and suffered the loss (4-8-0) in net for Franklin Pierce. She was relieved after the third Castleton State goal by freshman Meghan Nelson (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), who stopped four of five shots the rest of the way. Sophomore Paula Stephens stopped all 16 shots she faced to notch her fourth shutout of the season and pick up the win (6-3-1) between the pipes for Castleton State.

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).