Pair honored for work in Ravens' inaugural ECAC East campaign

Full ECAC East All-Conference selections

RINDGE, N.H. (February 26, 2015) – Despite finishing in a tie for third in the league -- after being picked to finish 11th in the preseason coaches' poll -- the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team was inexplicably left without a single All-ECAC East selection on Thursday afternoon, when the league announced its All-Conference selections. Instead, the Ravens settled for All-ECAC East Honorable Mention accolades for sophomore forward Marisa Ketterman (Palmer, Alaska) and sophomore goaltender Shannon O'Neil (Tewksbury, Mass.).

Ketterman -- a two-time ECAC East Player of the Week selection this winter -- was left off of the league's two All-Conference teams, despite leading all ECAC East players in overall scoring, with 35 points (15-20-35) in 25 games (1.40 points per game). Furthermore, she finished fourth in scoring in league play, with 21 points (10-11-21) in 17 games, and ranked second in the ECAC East in plus/minus (+25). Still, Ketterman -- who already has 54 career points (26-28-54) as her sophomore season winds down -- took home an All-ECAC East Honorable mention in the Ravens' first season in the league. Along the way this winter, she scored four game-winning goals and a pair of power-play markers, all while being whistled for just one minor penalty.

O'Neil, who split time in the Franklin Pierce crease with fellow sophomore Noelle White, led the ECAC East in overall save percentage (.947) and ranked third in goals-against average (1.33) over 722:51 between the pipes. Across 479:55 in league play, she ranked second in save percentage (.953) and third in goals-against average (1.38). In all, O'Neil made 288 saves against 304 shots and notched a pair of shutouts on her way to an 8-3-1 record. Along with Ketterman, she becomes one of the first two Ravens to earn postseason honors from the ECAC East.

In a 14-team league with just 12 All-Conference spots to go around, worthy candidates are bound to be left empty-handed. Still, among the more baffling exclusions from the ECAC East honorees is freshman forward Alex Brolsma (Bloomington, Minn.) who did not garner even a selection to the league's All-Rookie Team. This, despite leading the league's freshmen in scoring in conference play (7-13-20 in 17 games) and ranking second among first-year players in overall scoring (8-18-26 in 23 games). The latter was also good enough to lead the conference's freshmen in points per game on the year (1.13) and tied her for third in the league in points, regardless of class year.

Despite ranking second overall in the ECAC East in fewest goals allowed per game (1.44) and third in league play (1.53), the Ravens were also left without a defensive presence among league honorees. The most obvious choice would have been junior captain and defenseman Hayley Arnold (Barre, Vt.). Arnold led the league in plus/minus at +36 and finished tied for seventh among league defensemen in overall scoring (4-12-16 in 25 games).

The Ravens (19-5-1, 13-4-0 ECAC East) finished tied for third in the ECAC East in their inaugural season in the league. Franklin Pierce will look to make a final 2014-15 statement this weekend, as the top seed in the ECAC Open Tournament. The Ravens will face fifth seed and host Saint Michael's on Saturday, Feb. 28, in the second semifinal. Opening faceoff is set for 4 p.m. at Cairns Arena in South Burlington, Vt.

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).