WORCESTER, Mass. (October 28, 2017) – The Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team controlled play and piled up massive advantages in shots and scoring chances from start to finish on Friday night, but found itself ahead only 1-0 after two periods at Worcester Ice Center. It was senior forward Alex Brolsma (Bloomington, Minn.) who put the game away in the third period, with her first two goals of the season, as the Ravens shutout Becker in the latter's home opener, 3-0. Junior goaltender Madison Rigsby piled up an eye-popping 56 saves in defeat for Becker.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 1-2-0, while Becker falls to 0-2-0. Franklin Pierce finished the night with a 59-14 advantage in shots on goal.

The Ravens got the only goal they would need in the latter stages of the first period. Freshman forwards Marissa Massaro (Brockton, Mass.) and Kelsey Ryan (Burlington, Mass.) teamed up to spring sophomore forward and linemate Meg Gilbride (Braintree, Mass.) into the offensive end on a breakaway. From just below the hash marks, Gilbride snapped the puck into the top-right corner of the net for her second goal of the season at the 14:29 mark.

After a scoreless second period, Brolsma put away a power-play goal and a shorthanded goal in the first 11 minutes of the third period to put the game on ice. First, with the Ravens on the power play, a rebound came into the right-wing circle for freshman forward Haley Parker (Londonderry, N.H.). Parker batted the puck to freshman forward Nicole Amato (Billerica, Mass.), who slipped it over to the bottom of the right-wing circle. Brolsma was there to take the pass, but was facing away from the net. She put a blind, backhand shot on net, and the puck slipped between Rigsby's pads and into the goal for Brolsma's first of the season at 4:05.

Later, Brolsma capped the scoring shorthanded at the 10:52 mark. Sophomore defenseman Katie Neuburger (Fayetteville, N.Y.) helped spring Brolsma out of the Franklin Pierce end, but the senior did the rest of the work herself. While approaching the offensive end, she put a move on the lone defenseman with her, which sent said defenseman sprawling futilely across the ice and out of the play. Now in all alone, Brolsma deked Rigsby as well, and slid the puck in on the forehand to create the 3-0 final.

It marked Brolsma's 10^th career multiple-goal game. Her second goal of the night also ran her career points total to 93 (34-59-93), leaving her seven points shy of the 100-point milestone.

Senior goaltender Madison Murray (Berkley, Mich.) stopped all 14 shots on her goal to pick up the win (1-1-0) and post her second career shutout. In the other crease, Rigsby (0-1-0) piled up 56 saves against 59 shots, but still suffered the loss for Becker. It was her third career outing of 50 saves or more, two of which have come against Franklin Pierce, both losses.

The Ravens return to the ice on Friday, Nov. 3, when they travel to Saint Anselm. Opening faceoff is set for 4 p.m. at Sullivan Arena in Manchester, N.H.

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).