Wiley, Flynn score first career goals

HARRISVILLE, R.I. (November 1, 2013) – Sophomore forward Karsyn Baker (Detroit, Mich.) scored a power-play goal in the second period and later added a pair of assists on Friday night to lead the way for the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team in a 5-1, season-opening win at Nichols. Junior forward Amber Aaskov scored the lone goal in defeat for Nichols.

The game was the season opener for both teams, as the Ravens open the season at 1-0-0, while Nichols kicks things off at 0-1-0 (0-0-0 ECAC East). For Franklin Pierce, which is in its second season of competition, the season-opening win allows the program to boast an above-.500 record for the first time in program history. A year ago, the Ravens went 7-14-0 to record the most successful season of three debut programs.

The first period became a bit of a shooting gallery, as did much of the game, with Franklin Pierce holding a 14-10 edge in shots on goal. However, it was Nichols which found the only goal of the stanza, with 6:41 remaining before the first intermission. Aaskov forced a turnover in the neutral zone, used some nifty moves to work her way around a pair of Franklin Pierce defenseman and beat freshman goaltender Noelle White (Corona, Calif.) for the season's first goal.

The Ravens opened the throttle in the second period, to the tune of a 15-4 shots advantage, but would come away with only one goal and a 1-1 tie heading for the third to show for it. It would be the first of two power-play goals in eight chances for Franklin Pierce on the night, as Baker tied the game with 1:41 to play in the middle frame. She created her own breakaway off a turnover and put the puck behind senior goaltender Francesca Palazzo. For Baker, it was the first goal of 2013-14 after leading the team in scoring a year ago (9-18-24).

For the Ravens, the Baker goal was a sign of things to come, as the floodgates opened in the third and Franklin Pierce poured home four goals to come away with the 5-1 victory. When all was said and done, the Ravens held a 43-25 advantage in shots on goal on the night.

The third-period party started just 21 seconds into the frame, as sophomore forward Colleen Doucette (Wakefield, Mass.) scored her first goal of the new season after tallying a team-best 12 goals in last year's inaugural campaign. The goal came unassisted, just two seconds after a Nichols penalty expired -- after carrying over from the end of the second period -- and, while not officially a power-play goal, may as well have been one.

The Doucette goal would ultimately stand as the game-winner -- the third such goal of her career -- and Franklin Pierce would pile on from there. At the 6:20 mark, the third member of the top line got in on the action, as sophomore forward Michaela Faia (Malden, Mass.) put home a wrist shot just three seconds into a power play, immediately off a faceoff win by Baker.

From there, a pair of Ravens picked up their first career goals as Franklin Pierce added two further insurance markers to create the 5-1 final. First, sophomore forward Bryana Harron (Woburn, Mass.) sent the puck into the slot for freshman forward Lanie Matsumoto (Fort Collins, Colo.), and the latter took a quick shot. Palazzo made the initial save, but senior forward Jamie Wiley (Cape Vincent, N.Y.) put home the rebound to make it 4-1 at the 13:19 mark. Finally, with Nichols on the power play in the final five minutes, the Bison pulled Palazzo to generate a two-man advantage in an attempt to spark an unlikely comeback. Instead, the puck wound up in the empty net, as Baker set up freshman defenseman Katie Flynn (East Sandwich, Mass.) for a shorthanded, empty-net goal to cap the scoring at 16:22.

Making her collegiate debut, White finished with 24 saves in front of the Franklin Pierce net to pick up the win (1-0-0). Meanwhile, Palazzo was under siege all night and came away with 38 saves, but was stuck with the loss (0-1-0) for Nichols anyway.

The Ravens return to the ice on Saturday, Nov. 2, when they return home to host Plymouth State. Opening faceoff is set for 7 p.m. at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena in Winchendon, Mass.

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).