Baker notches 1-1-2 to finish freshman campaign 9-18-27

WINCHENDON, Mass. (February 16, 2013) – Freshman forward Karsyn Baker (Detroit, Mich.) had a goal and an assist, freshman forward Haylea Barbieri (Plainville, Mass.) had a pair of assists, and the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team piled up 15 shots on goal in the final period on Saturday afternoon, but the team dropped a 3-2 decision to Sacred Heart at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. Sophomore forward Alex Davis scored the game-winning goal in the third period for Sacred Heart.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce closes out its inaugural season at 7-14-0, while Sacred Heart wraps up its year at 15-12-2, and the two teams split the weekend series in Winchendon. For Franklin Pierce, the seven wins currently ranks first among the three first-year women's hockey programs in the country. Stevenson is 6-13-1 with two home games this weekend against Utica, while University of New England finished its first season at 1-10-0. For Sacred Heart, the 15 wins are the most for the program since a 17-9-0 campaign in 2001-02.

Baker opened the scoring at 7:16 of the first period with her second goal in as many days, as well as her fourth in the final six games. Barbieri took a shot from the point as a Franklin Pierce power play expired, and Baker put away the rebound for her ninth of the year. The goal was not scored with the man-advantage, but came before the penalized player had a chance to return to the play.

Sacred Heart struck for a pair of special teams goals in the final 11:04 of the opening stanza to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. The 14th of the season for sophomore forward Melissa Robbins at 8:56 -- a shorthanded goal -- is probably one Franklin Pierce junior goaltender Amelea Gray (Bozeman, Mont.) would like to have a second chance at. Sophomore forward Natasha Klinoff got the puck to Robbins on the left side, and the latter worked her way to the left-wing faceoff dot and threw the puck at the net. Gray was there, but the puck handcuffed her, got behind her and got into the net to tie the game. Later, with 35 seconds to play in the frame, with the Pioneers on the power play, sophomore forward Meaghan Souza tracked down a loose puck. Again, Gray got a piece of the shot, which was stronger than Robbins' shot earlier, but again it wound up in the net for Souza's fourth of the year, unassisted.

Early in the second period, Franklin Pierce got a power-play goal of its own, from freshman forward Colleen Doucette (Wakefield, Mass.), to tie the game at 2-2. Again, Barbieri took the original shot from the point, but it was turned aside by Sacred Heart freshman goaltender Amanda Fontaine. Baker was the first player to the rebound, and she found Doucette amidst a scramble to the right-wing wide of the cage. The latter put home her team-leading 12th of the campaign.

It was Baker's 18th assist of the season, allowing her to finish her freshman season with 27 points (9-18-27). Should she be able to maintain her pace through four years, she would give Franklin Pierce a 100-point scorer in its inaugural class.

With 6:51 to play in the middle frame, Sacred Heart got what would prove to be the game's final goal, creating the 3-2 final. With the puck loose in the right-wing circle, junior defenseman Catie Ladner got a hold of it and slipped a quick pass into the slot to Davis, who one-timed her 10th of the year to the back of the net. Franklin Pierce put forth offensive pressure throughout the third period, generating a 15-8 advantage in shots on goal along the way, but could not find the equalizer over the final 20 minutes.

Gray made 23 saves and suffered the loss (7-13-0) in net for Franklin Pierce. Fontaine chalked up 30 stops to pick up the win (3-0-0) in front of the Sacred Heart cage.

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).