White makes 21 saves for first career shutout

WINCHENDON, Mass. (November 2, 2013) – Sophomore forward Karsyn Baker (Detroit, Mich.) scored the only goal the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team would need on Saturday night at the 15:33 mark of the second period at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. The goal would stand as the game-winning tally in a 3-0 win over Plymouth State, as Baker and her linemates each tallied 1-1-2 on the night. Freshman goaltender Noelle White (Corona, Calif.) stopped all 21 shots she faced to notch her first career shutout in just her second collegiate game.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 2-0-0 and caps a perfect opening weekend where it outscored opponents 8-1, while Plymouth State opens its season at 0-1-0 (0-0-0 ECAC East).

The scoreless first period went by the boards extremely quietly, with just one minor penalty assessed to each team and Franklin Pierce collecting a 9-7 advantage in shots. Much of the second period went quietly as well, until Plymouth State senior defenseman Tasha Wyatt was whistled for interference at the 14:58 mark. The Ravens capitalized 35 seconds into the man-advantage, when sophomore defenseman Michelle Stock (Austin, Texas) sent the puck from the point to sophomore forward Michaela Faia (Malden, Mass.) in the right circle, and the latter pushed the puck towards Baker at the right post. Baker was able to jam the puck home for her second goal of the season.

The first half of the final stanza would go without another goal, until the Ravens -- who held a slim, 22-21 edge in shots on the night -- put home a pair of late insurance markers. In a 4-on-4 situation, thanks to coincidental roughing minors, sophomore forward Colleen Doucette (Wakefield, Mass.) scored her second goal of the season amid a scramble in front of the net, with sophomore defenseman Sarah Sheils (Pittsburgh, Pa.) picking up the assist. For Sheils, it was the first point since Dec. 8, 2012, when she dished out an assist against Plymouth State, as she missed the final 10 games of the 2012-13 campaign due to injury.

With the game winding down, Faia capped the scoring at the 19:13 mark, when she jammed home a rebound for her second goal of the season, while Doucette and Baker picked up the assists, as the whole line got in on a goal for the first time in 2013-14. For Baker, the helper capped a 2-4-6 two-game weekend to open the season.

For White, the 21-save effort earned her the win (2-0-0), her first career shutout, and the second shutout in program history. At the other end, senior goaltender Ali Ponte made 19 saves against 22 shots and took the loss (0-1-0) for Plymouth State.

The Ravens return to the ice on Friday, Nov. 8, when they remain home to host Massachusetts Boston. Opening faceoff is set for 7 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).