Sheils caps three-point weekend

WINCHENDON, Mass. (November 30, 2014) – Junior forward Bryana Harron (Woburn, Mass.) scored her first goal of the season with 3:08 to play in regulation on Sunday afternoon to erase a one-goal deficit and help the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team to a 1-1 tie against Buffalo State in non-conference play at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. Senior forward Kara Goodwin scored the lone goal in the draw for Buffalo State.

With the tie, Franklin Pierce moves to 6-1-1 (5-1-0 ECAC East) on the season, is unbeaten in a program-record seven straight games and is unbeaten in its last 16 games on home ice. Buffalo State now stands at 5-3-2 (5-1-0 ECAC West).

Goals would be at a premium on Sunday afternoon, but one did come early, as Buffalo State struck just 74 seconds into the proceedings. Freshman forward Brooke Krantz had the original shot on the play, from the right circle, though her attempt was turned aside by Franklin Pierce sophomore goaltender Shannon O'Neil (Tewksbury, Mass.). The rebound went towards the left-wing side and Goodwin, who had been left unmarked in the left circle, was able to collect it and put home her team-leading ninth goal of the season at the left post.

It would stand as the game's only goal for over 50 minutes of play, as the remainder of the first, all of the second and much of the third period went without further scoring. After having the play taken to it for parts of the first two frames, Franklin Pierce came to life in the third stanza, when it amassed a 13-7 shots advantage. The Ravens were afforded six power-play opportunities in the game after the Goodwin goal, but all six would go by the boards without being converted.

Instead, Franklin Pierce would strike to even the game with 3:08 to play, just after its final power-play chance of the day expired. The original shot on the play came from the point, but was stopped by Buffalo State freshman goaltender Justine Silva. The rebound stayed loose near the goal, which led to a crush of bodies around the crease in the scramble for the puck. Amid the traffic, Harron was able to find the rebound and put it away for her first goal of the season, while junior defensemen Sarah Sheils (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Hayley Arnold (Barre, Vt.) added assists on the play. For Harron, the goal capped a four-point weekend (1-3-4), while Sheils' helper gave her a three-point weekend (1-2-3).

O'Neil finished with 19 saves against 20 shots in the tie (2-1-1) for Franklin Pierce, while Silva made 29 saves against 30 shots at the other of the ice in the tie (5-2-2) for Buffalo State).

The Ravens return to the ice on Friday, Dec. 5, when they remain home to host Sacred Heart in a non-conference contest. Opening faceoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Jason Ritchie Ice Arena.

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).