Ravens and Pioneers meet again Saturday afternoon

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (January 25, 2013) – Freshman forward Karsyn Baker (Detroit, Mich.) scored a goal early in the third period on Friday night, but it would be the only one of the proceedings for the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team, which dropped a 3-1 decision on the road to Sacred Heart at Wonderland of Ice. Sophomore forward Casey Stathopoulos scored twice in the victory, including the game-winning goal, for Sacred Heart.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 5-11-0, while Sacred Heart improves to 10-11-2. The two teams will meet again on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Wonderland of Ice to wrap up the two-game weekend set.

Sacred Heart opened the scoring late in the first period, with 4:56 remaining before the intermission. With just two seconds remaining in a hooking penalty to freshman forward Samantha Hulme (West Simsbury, Conn.), Stathopoulos put home her first of the night on the power play. Senior defenseman Maura Leahy and junior forward Sara Hanna added the assists on Stathopoulos' team-leading 12th of the season.

Stathopoulos would strike again on the other side of the intermission, just 3:44 into the second stanza, with her second goal of the game. This one came at even strength, off an assist from sophomore forward Whitney Henderson, to extend the lead to 2-0.

Though the teams generated roughly equal amounts of offense, with the shots on goal clock showing a 31-27 advantage for Franklin Pierce when all was said and done, special teams would tell at least part of the contest's story. While Sacred Heart created just three power-play opportunities, Stathopoulos was able to cash in on one with her first-period goal. Meanwhile, the Ravens came up empty on five chances with the man-advantage over the course of the evening, including three in succession over the remainder of the second frame after the second Stathopoulos goal.

Franklin Pierce would get on the board 5:03 into the third period to cut the lead in half at 2-1. Baker put away her sixth of the season, while freshman defenseman Samantha Bureau (Ottawa, Ontario) provided the lone assist. However, just 2:17 later, Sacred Heart would pick up an insurance marker and create the 3-1 final. Hanna earned her second point of the night, scoring her seventh goal of the season this time, off an assist from sophomore defenseman Catherine Chittick.

Junior goaltender Amelea Gray (Bozeman, Mont.) made 24 saves and took the loss (5-10-0) between the pipes for Franklin Pierce. Junior Alexius Schutt stopped 30 shots to earn the win (7-7-1) in net for Sacred Heart.

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).