Ravens sweep Herons with back-to-back shutouts

GENEVA, N.Y. (January 9, 2016) – The Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team broke out its brooms to sweep a weekend of play for the third time this season on Saturday afternoon. This time, they did so in style at The Cooler, as a four-goal second period broke things open en route to a 7-0 win over William Smith in non-conference play. Senior defenseman Hayley Arnold (Barre, Vt.) led the way with a pair of goals for the Ravens, while junior goaltender Shannon O'Neil (Tewksbury, Mass.) notched a 34-save shutout.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 9-2-1 and is unbeaten in its last seven (6-0-1), while William Smith falls to 4-7-2. Franklin Pierce swept the two-game weekend series by a combined score of 11-0.

The game started innocently enough on Saturday, with just a lone score in the first period, courtesy of Franklin Pierce senior forward Colleen Doucette (Wakefield, Mass.). Fellow senior forward Karsyn Baker (Detroit, Mich.) broke up a William Smith play at her own blue line and quickly sprung Doucette the other way on a breakaway. The latter had her initial shot saved by sophomore goaltender Emily Spencer, but immediately salted away the rebound for her fifth goal of the season, at the 19:44 mark.

The Ravens seized control of the game for good in the second period, pouring in four goals to balloon the lead to 5-0. First, at the 1:53 mark, junior forward Michelle Holmes (Goffstown, N.H.) notched her team-leading ninth goal of the season. Senior forward Bryana Harron (Woburn, Mass.) took control of the puck along the boards in the neutral zone and then set up Holmes, who let her shot fly from the left point and found the net.

Later, it was Doucette who took control of the puck along the boards in the neutral zone and then sent a pass to senior defenseman Sarah Sheils (Pittsburgh, Pa.). Sheils walked into the zone on the left-wing side and snapped a wrist shot into the top-left corner of the net for her third goal of the campaign at the 11:23 mark. Just 3:02 later, at the 14:25 mark, the Ravens caught Spencer off-guard with a quick-developing play. Sophomore forward Alex Brolsma (Bloomington, Minn.) ultimately finished off her fourth of the season on a shot which just trickled home, while Holmes and senior defenseman Michelle Stock (Austin, Texas) provided the assists.

Arnold's first of two power-play markers on the afternoon capped the second period's scoring at the 19:35 mark. With Arnold and junior forward Marisa Ketterman (Palmer, Alaska) playing catch with the puck at the top of the zone, Arnold ultimately blasted home a slap shot from the left point.

The Ravens added two more goals in the third period to create the 7-0 final. At the 5:01 mark, senior forward Francesca Paciello (Clinton, N.Y.) had a tip-in goal for her fourth score of the season, off of an assist from junior forward Lanie Matsumoto (Fort Collins, Colo.). Later, at 18:21, Arnold fired the final salvo of the night, with another blast from the point, as Ketterman picked up another assist on the power-play goal.

O'Neil (5-2-1) stopped all 34 shots she faced to post her second shutout of the season, as well as the fifth of her career. At the other end of the ice, Spencer (0-1-0) made just her second collegiate start and finished with 30 saves against 37 shots in the crease for William Smith.

The Ravens return to the ice on Tuesday, Jan. 12, when they return home to host Becker in a non-conference contest. Opening faceoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena in Winchendon.

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' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).