Sheils Scores Late as Women’s Ice Hockey Fights Off Saint Michael’s, 1-0
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Franklin Pierce (4-1, 4-1) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
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Saint Michael's (1-4, 1-4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
White picks up second shutout of young season
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Sheils scored her first goal in nearly a calendar year, and it stood as the game's only goal at Saint Michael's on Friday night.SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (November 21, 2014) – The Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team put shot after shot on the Saint Michael's goal on Friday night, but was unable to find the back of the net through the game's first 57 minutes at Cairns Arena. Junior defenseman Sarah Sheils (Pittsburgh, Pa.) ultimately broke the scoreless tie with a power-play goal, the game's only goal, with 2:52 to play, as the Ravens escaped with a 1-0 win in ECAC East play. Sophomore goaltender Tina Frasca piled up 41 saves in defeat for Saint Michael's.
With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 4-1-0 (4-1-0 ECAC East) and has now won four in a row after a season-opening loss at Saint Anselm. Saint Michael's falls to 1-5-0 (1-4-0 ECAC East) with the loss.
Franklin Pierce was dominant throughout the night, as the Ravens amassed a 42-10 edge in shots over the course of 60 minutes. The team had its strongest periods to start and finish the contest, as the crimson and grey enjoyed a 15-3 advantage in shots in the first frame and a 19-2 margin in the third period.
Despite the onslaught, Franklin Pierce could not break through until the 17:08 mark of the third stanza, on their fourth of five power plays on the night. Sheils notched her first of the season with the two-man advantage, off assists from freshman forward Alex Brolsma (Bloomington, Minn.) and sophomore forward Marisa Ketterman (Palmer, Alaska). Brolsma, the team's leading scorer (3-4-7), has scored all seven of her points in the last four games, and now has at least one assist in each of the past three contests.
In an interesting coincidence, Sheils' previous goal was also the only goal of the game, as she struck on the power play, also in the third period, at Buffalo State in a 1-0 win on Dec. 8, 2013.
Sophomore goaltender Noelle White (Corona, Calif.) picked up her third win in as many starts (3-0-0) by stopping all 10 shots on her net to post her second shutout of the season, as well as the fourth of her career. Frasca's 41 saves marked her second 40-plus save performance in four appearances to start the season, though she still suffered the loss (1-3-0) for Saint Michael's.
The Ravens return to the ice on Saturday, Nov. 22, when they travel to Univ. of New England for an ECAC East contest. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Harold Alfond Forum in Biddeford, Maine. 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).