Sheils nets lone Raven goal

WINCHENDON, Mass. (November 9, 2012) – Freshman forward Molly O'Neil knocked home a rebound on the power play at the 11:23 mark of the third period on Friday night for her second goal of the game, and the eventual game-winner, as Stevenson defeated the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team, 3-1, at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. Freshman defenseman Sarah Sheils (Pittsburgh, Pa.) scored her first career goal in the loss for Franklin Pierce. The two teams combined for 19 penalties totaling 38 minutes in a whistle-filled contest.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 0-3-0, while Stevenson improves to 2-1-0. Both teams are in their first season at the varsity level. Stevenson posted a 32-28 advantage in shots on goal and went 1-for-7 on the power play, while Franklin Pierce went 0-for-9 with the man advantage.

After the first two periods of the game went scoreless, though they featured a total of 15 penalties and 12 power-play opportunities, Franklin Pierce opened the scoring in one of the game's few stretches of five-on-five play. At the 2:38 mark of the third, freshman forward Cassie Craig (Raynham, Mass.) sent the puck towards the net from the right halfboards. Sheils would get her stick to it and cause the puck to change directions, beating Stevenson freshman goaltender Mackenzie Bruch.

The Mustangs would answer less than two minutes later, at the 4:10 mark, when O'Neil finished off her first rebound of the night, for her first career goal. Freshman forwards McKenzie Taggart and Jessie Capanelli would pick up the assists.

O'Neil's game winner came 7:13 after her first goal, as Stevenson worked on the man advantage, with a slashing penalty to Franklin Pierce junior goaltender Amelea Gray (Bozeman, Mont.) on the board. Capanelli sent the puck to freshman defenseman Tori Emoff at the left point, and Emoff wound and fired. The shot was knocked down by the Ravens defense, but fell to O'Neil in the slot. She spun around Gray, towards the right post, and put the puck in the net. The Mustangs would add an empty-net goal from Taggart as time expired to create the 3-1 final.

Gray made 29 saves and took the loss (0-3-0) in net for Franklin Pierce. Bruch stopped 27 shots to pick up the win (1-0-0) between the pipes for Stevenson in her collegiate debut.

The Ravens return to the ice on Saturday, Nov. 10, when they remain home for the back end of the weekend set with Stevenson. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena.

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).