Sophomore finishes off four-point weekend

BUFFALO, N.Y. (December 8, 2013) – A third period power-play goal from sophomore defenseman Sarah Sheils (Pittsburgh, Pa.) was the only goal of the day on Sunday afternoon as the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team picked up a 1-0 win against Buffalo State at Buffalo State Ice Arena. The win is the program-record fourth in a row for Franklin Pierce and finishes off a two-game weekend sweep at Buffalo State.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 7-1-0, while Buffalo State falls to 0-11-0 (0-6-0 ECAC West). After holding Buffalo State to just 16 shots on Saturday, the Ravens held the Bengals to 11 shots en route to a 24-11 advantage on Sunday.

The first two periods went without a goal, as Franklin Pierce came up empty on four power-play chances in the first stanza and two more in the second. At the 12:25 mark of the third period, Buffalo State sophomore defenseman Nikki Kirchberger was whistled for roughing, giving Franklin Pierce its seventh power-play opportunity of the afternoon. This time, the Ravens needed just 14 seconds to convert, as sophomore forward Colleen Doucette (Wakefield, Mass.) set up the first of the season for Sheils. The goal gave Sheils a four-point weekend (1-3-4), while Doucette dished out her third helper of the season (0-3-3).

After the remaining 7:21 went without further scoring, the goal would stand as Sheils' first career game-winning goal.

Freshman goaltender Shannon O'Neil (Tewksbury, Mass.) stopped all 11 shots she faced to pick up the win (3-0-0) and notch her first collegiate shutout. It was the second shutout of the season for the Ravens. At the other end of the ice, sophomore Sarah Quigley made 23 saves and took the loss (0-3-0) between the pipes for Buffalo State.

The Ravens return to the ice on Tuesday, Dec. 10, when they travel to Saint Anselm. Opening faceoff is set for 7 p.m. at Sullivan Arena in Manchester, N.H. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on Friday, Dec. 13 against SUNY Canton at 8 p.m.

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).