Harron tallies 1-2-3

Video of game-winning goal

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (January 30, 2016) – Junior forward Alex Brolsma (Bloomington, Minn.) jammed home her own rebound at the left post at the 4:11 mark of overtime on Saturday night, as the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team managed to survive a third-period Salve Regina comeback to secure a 4-3 overtime win in New England Hockey Conference play at St. George's School Ice Rink. It was the second straight night the Ravens saw a third-period lead evaporate, but the second time around, the team was able to rebound to find the overtime winner.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 13-4-1 (7-4-0 NEHC), while Salve Regina falls to 6-10-2 (4-5-1 NEHC).

The first period nearly went scoreless on Saturday night, but Franklin Pierce was able to draw first blood with a power-play goal at the 18:41 mark of the opening stanza. The goal came off a tic-tac-toe passing play, as senior defenseman Sarah Sheils (Pittsburgh, Pa.) started things from the right point by sending the puck down to senior forward Colleen Doucette (Wakefield, Mass.), who was along the goal line to the right-wing side of the goal. Doucette drew the goaltender's attention and then slipped a pass across the top of the crease for senior forward Karsyn Baker (Detroit, Mich.). The feed forced Baker to go to her backhand, but with the empty net to finish into, she was able to get enough on the backhanded one-timer to put away her 11th goal of the season.

The Ravens were able to sandwich a pair of second-period goals around a Salve Regina tally to push the lead to 3-1 by the time the second intermission rolled around. First, senior forward Bryana Harron (Woburn, Mass.) picked up the first of her three points (1-2-3) on the night by putting away her ninth goal of the campaign at the 5:53 mark. Doucette got tied up while making her way behind the net and wound up down on the ice with a Salve Regina defender behind the goal line to the left-wing side of the goal. Harron was on the scene to dig the puck out, and found room to walk out in front of the goal from the left side. Once she made her way out front, Harron flipped a backhand to the far side and tucked it inside the right post to make it 2-0.

Salve Regina got on the board at the 9:26 mark of the second period. Sophomore forward Briana D'Avolio was able to finish her 12th goal of the year from right on top of the crease on the left side, capitalizing on a feed from the left corner by senior forward Cheyenne Boyd. Sophomore defenseman Meredith Peppes picked up a helper on the play as well, as the Seahawks cut the gap to 2-1.

Franklin Pierce reclaimed the two-goal lead on an odd-man rush with 2:21 to play in the period. Brolsma started the breakout at her own blue line by working the puck to Harron in the neutral zone. Harron then led a 2-on-1 through the middle of the ice and into the offensive end. Harron left the puck for junior forward Michelle Holmes (Goffstown, N.H.) -- a former Seahawk herself -- and the latter snapped a wrist shot inside the right post for her 11th goal of the season.

Salve Regina would score the third period's only two goals to force overtime. Both goals would come unassisted, as the Seahawks were able to force changes of possession before Franklin Pierce could clear the defensive end on both occasions. On the first of the two, the turnover came in the high slot and freshman forward Taylor Chisholm was able to put home her third of the season from the left side of the crease at the 7:39 mark. Later, junior defenseman Amanda Cronin was able to walk into the high slot and snap home a wrist shot for her ninth of the campaign, with just 2:45 to play in regulation, to tie the game at 3-3.

Though the Ravens had seen a two-goal third-period lead turn into an overtime loss against Saint Anselm on Friday night, it was Brolsma who would speak last on Saturday night. With less than a minute to play in the extra session, Franklin Pierce took control of the puck in the offensive end. Harron worked the puck to Holmes in the right-wing circle, and the latter sent the puck across the slot to Brolsma, who was on top of the crease in front of the left post. Brolsma's initial shot was stymied by Salve Regina junior goaltender Colleen Marcik, but the puck fell right back to Brolsma's stick and she jammed the rebound home inside the left post for her eighth goal of the season to send the Ravens away 4-3 winners.

Junior goaltender Shannon O'Neil (Tewksbury, Mass.) finished with 31 saves against 34 shots on goal to pick up the win (7-3-1) between the pipes for Franklin Pierce. At the other end, Marcik (4-9-2) piled up 47 saves against 51 shots, but suffered the loss for Salve Regina.

The Ravens return to the ice on Friday, Feb. 5, when they return home to host Norwich in an NEHC contest. Opening faceoff is set for 7 p.m. at the 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).