Harron nets lone Ravens goal

WINCHENDON, Mass. (February 5, 2016) – Trailing 3-0 through two periods on Friday night, the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team was afforded three third-period power plays, but could not cash in. Instead, Norwich, ranked No. 8/9 nationally in Division III, held the Ravens to a lone third-period goal and skated away with a 3-1 victory in New England Hockey Conference play at the Jason Ritchie Ice Arena.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 13-5-1 (7-5-0 NEHC), while Norwich improves to 15-6-0 (12-1-0 NEHC).

The first period nearly went scoreless on Friday night, but Norwich was able to put together the opening salvo with just 2:39 to play in the period. Senior forward Madison Gallagher took the initial shot on the play from the left circle, but had it blocked into the right-wing corner. Junior forward Adelle Murphy tracked the puck down there and quickly centered it as Gallagher cut through the slot. The centering feed arrived before Franklin Pierce junior goaltender Noelle White (Corona, Calif.) could reset herself, and Gallagher put the one-time finish into the left side of the net for her fifth of the season at the 17:21 mark.

The Cadets also had the only two goals of the second period, which stretched the lead to 3-0. The first of the two came amid a goalmouth scramble at the 7:57 mark of the middle frame. White and senior defenseman Hayley Arnold (Barre, Vt.) got tangled up in the crease, which ultimately allowed sophomore forward Erin Joyce to bang home her fifth of the campaign at the left post. Senior forward Rachel Bellio and sophomore forward Sarah Schwenzfeier were credited with the assists on the play.

Later, strong puck movement for Norwich led to the 11th goal of the season for freshman forward Bryn Labbe at the 15:25 mark. With possession of the puck in the left-wing circle, Murphy slipped a pass across the slot to Gallagher in the right circle. The latter took a shot from there, which White was able to make a pad save on. However, the rebound was left in front of the crease, with no Ravens defenseman in the area to either clear the puck or put a stick on Labbe, who had the easy rebound finish in front of the left post.

Franklin Pierce got on the board with its lone goal of the contest just after a power play expired in the third period. Senior forward Colleen Doucette (Wakefield, Mass.) dug the puck out of the right-wing corner and sent it to senior forward Karsyn Baker (Detroit, Mich.) in the right circle. Baker quickly sent a pass across the slot for senior forward Bryana Harron (Woburn, Mass.) who banged home the simple one-time finish for her 10th goal of the season at the 15:01 mark.

White (6-2-0) finished with 15 saves against 18 shots in a losing effort between the pipes for Franklin Pierce. At the other end of the ice, sophomore netminder Laurie King started and stopped all 10 shots she faced over the opening 27:21 before leaving due to injury. Junior goaltender Céleste Robert (9-4-0) picked up the win in relief after making 23 saves against 24 shots over the remaining 32:39.

The Ravens return to the ice on Saturday, Feb. 6, when they travel to Holy Cross for an NEHC contest. Opening faceoff is set for 3:05 p.m. at Hart Recreation Center in Worcester, Mass.

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).