Brolsma adds three points (1-2-3)

WINCHENDON, Mass. (November 14, 2014) – Sophomore forward Marisa Ketterman (Palmer, Alaska) scored once in each period on Friday night to tally her first collegiate hat trick and lead the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team to a 5-3 win over Castleton State in ECAC East play at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. Junior forward Taylor Steadman scored twice and added an assist in defeat for Castleton State.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 2-1-0 (2-1-0 ECAC East), while Castleton State falls to 4-1-0 (2-1-0 ECAC East). Franklin Pierce has now won 14 straight home games, as it won every game at the Jason Ritchie Ice Arena a year ago and has been victorious in its first two home games this season.

The Ravens picked up the first period's only score on Friday night, before the goals came fast and furious later in the game. Freshman forward Alex Brolsma (Bloomington, Minn.) took the initial shot on the play, from the right side, but was turned aside by Castleton State senior goaltender Paula Stephens. The rebound fell to the netminder's right, where Ketterman jammed the puck home at the left post for her first goal of the season at the 6:29 mark. Junior forward Haylea Barbieri (Plainville, Mass.) also picked up an assist on the play.

With sophomore forward Lanie Matsumoto (Fort Collins, Colo.) in the penalty box for checking, Castleton State tied things up at the 12:48 mark of the second period, with its first of three power-play goals on the night (3-for-7). Senior defenseman Emily Raber and freshman forward Brianna Keats picked up the helpers as the play developed from the left-wing side on the man-advantage. Steadman ultimately finished things off in front for her fourth goal of the campaign.

Franklin Pierce needed just 87 seconds to reclaim the one-goal lead, at the 14:15 mark. Sophomore defenseman Katie Flynn (East Sandwich, Mass.) sent the puck to Ketterman near the blue line on the left-wing side. The Alaskan took control of things from there, as her stick skills abused a defenseman near the top of the circle and then she beat Stephens with a deke as well for her second goal of the game.

A controversial power-play goal in the waning seconds of the middle frame would send the Ravens into the second intermission with a 3-1 lead. Brolsma wound up with the puck in the left circle with time winding down, off a feed from junior defenseman Sarah Sheils (Pittsburgh, Pa.). Brolsma's shot from there beat Stephens cleanly and wound up in the back of the net, though the buzzer signaling the end of the period sounded at the same time. After deliberation, conversation and exchange of opinions, the officiating crew decided the goal would count, much to the dismay of the Castleton State bench, which let a few expletives fly as Franklin Pierce skated to the locker room with the two-goal lead.

Franklin Pierce would push the lead as high as 5-1 in the third period, before the Spartans attempted a late rally. First, at the 12:05 mark, Ketterman finished off her first career hat trick, on a play similar to her first goal of the night. As the trailer on the play, Ketterman finished off a rebound, while Brolsma and junior defenseman Samantha Bureau (Ottawa, Ontario) picked up the assists. For Brolsma, the assist capped a three-point night.

Just 2:18 later, a shorthanded marker made it a four-goal game. Barbieri dispossessed the Castleton State defense inside its own zone. She took control on the left-wing side, eluded a defenseman, made her way into the slot and went top-shelf for her first goal of the season at the 14:23 mark, unassisted.

Penalty trouble for Franklin Pierce down the stretch nearly sparked a comeback for Castleton State, which popped home a pair of power-play goals to close the gap to 5-3 with 1:50 to play and outshot the Ravens 12-3 in the final stanza. At 16:09, Steadman notched her second of the night, as she hammered home a rebound at the left post after a shot from the left point by junior defenseman Sam Pion was turned aside. Keats added her second of three assists on the night on the play.

Finally, at 18:10, Steadman and Keats set up sophomore defenseman Hannah Wright at the left point and the latter drove the puck through traffic and into the back of the net for her first goal of the season. The Spartans would pull Stephens in favor of the extra attacker in the final minute, but could get no closer, as Franklin Pierce came away with the 5-3 victory.

Sophomore goaltender Noelle White (Corona, Calif.) made 30 saves against 33 shots on goal to pick up the win (2-0-0) between the pipes for Franklin Pierce. Stephens finished with 14 saves against 19 shots and suffered the loss (2-1-0) in net for Castleton State.

The Ravens return to the ice on Saturday, Nov. 15, when they travel to Holy Cross for an ECAC East contest. Opening faceoff is set for 2:05 p.m. at Hart Recreation Center in Worcester, Mass. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on Saturday, Nov. 29 against Buffalo State at 7 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).