Ravens claim top seed in ECAC Open Tournament

GORHAM, Maine (February 21, 2015) – Sophomore forward Marisa Ketterman (Palmer, Alaska) had a goal and two assists on Saturday afternoon, to cap a six-point weekend (3-3-6) and lead the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team to a 4-1 win over Southern Maine in ECAC East play at USM Ice Arena. Junior forward Cassandra Sherman scored the lone goal in defeat for Southern Maine.

With the win, Franklin Pierce finishes the regular season at 19-5-1 (13-4-0 ECAC East), while Southern Maine falls to 8-14-3 (6-8-3 ECAC East).

With the win, Franklin Pierce also clinched the top seed in next weekend's ECAC Open Tournament, to be hosted by Saint Michael's at Cairns Arena in South Burlington, Vt. The Ravens will take on the host and fifth-seeded Purple Knights at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28 in the day's second semifinal.

With the game tied 1-1 through 40 minutes, Franklin Pierce scored three third-period goals to pull out the 4-1 win. The sixth of the season for junior forward Bryana Harron (Woburn, Mass.) at the 7:30 mark of the final frame would ultimately stand as the game-winning goal. The play began with the Ravens keeping the puck in the offensive zone on the right-wing side, and it eventually came free to junior defenseman Hayley Arnold (Barre, Vt.) outside the top of the right circle. Arnold curled towards the middle of the blue line and threw a soft wrist shot on net, which was turned aside by USM senior goaltender Liz Bergstrom. Bergstrom was unable to hold the puck though, which led to a scramble for the rebound just outside the crease. Harron was eventually able to put the puck over the fallen goaltender to break the 1-1 tie.

Just 2:14 later, at the 9:44 mark, a power-play marker from Ketterman provided a little insurance, as she stuffed home a rebound at the left post for her 15th goal of the campaign, tying for the team lead. Harron and freshman forward Alex Brolsma (Bloomington, Minn.), who each had four-point weekends (both 1-3-4), had the assists on the play.

Sophomore defenseman Katie Flynn (East Sandwich, Mass.) later capped the scoring with an empty-net goal at 18:29. Sophomore forward Lanie Matsumoto (Fort Collins, Colo.) and junior defenseman Haylea Barbieri (Plainville, Mass.) had the assists on Flynn's first goal of the season.

Earlier in the day, Franklin Pierce opened the scoring with the first-period's only goal, a power-play strike at the 9:39 mark. Brolsma worked the puck to Ketterman in the left-wing corner, and the latter found a seam to slip a pass through to the right circle. The feed went to junior defenseman Sarah Sheils (Pittsburgh, Pa.), who was gliding down the right-wing circle towards the net. Sheils snapped a shot to the top shelf which rang off the crossbar and in for her ninth goal of the season.

Southern Maine had the only goal of the second period, Sherman's fourth of the year at the 3:48 mark, to tie the game at 1-1. Junior defenseman Chelsea Boucher set up Sherman, who was cutting through the slot to towards the net. Sherman made a power move to get around a defender and flipped a backhand shot into the top-right corner of the net, over the glove hand of Franklin Pierce sophomore goaltender Noelle White (Corona, Calif.).

White finished with 16 saves against 17 shots to pick up the win (11-2-0) in goal for Franklin Pierce. Bergstrom made 29 saves against 32 shots and suffered the loss (7-10-0) in net for Southern Maine.

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).