WINCHENDON, Mass. (December 8, 2017) – Despite a 22-9 advantage in shots on goal, the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team found itself locked in a scoreless tie with Plymouth State through two periods at home on Friday night. The Ravens then proceeded to outshoot the Panthers 26-3 in the third period as well, for a 48-12 advantage for the night. Still, the crimson and grey could not find the net through the first 55 minutes of the game. Find the net they would in the end, though, as freshman forward Nicole Amato (Billerica, Mass.) and freshman defenseman Carolyn Drowne (Bridgewater, Mass.) put home goals 98 seconds apart in the final five minutes to lift Franklin Pierce to a 2-0 win at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 6-6-1, climbs back to .500 for the first time on the season, and is unbeaten in its last four (3-0-1). Plymouth State fell to 2-5-2 with the loss.

The first two periods were largely uneventful, though Franklin Pierce controlled play throughout. The first period went without so much as a goal or a penalty. The second frame featured an early Franklin Pierce power play which generated three shots, but the Ravens could not convert. It marked the only man-advantage of the game before the Ravens earned a trio of power-play opportunities in the third period.

Franklin Pierce finally struck to open the scoring with a power-play goal at 15:14 of the third, working against a checking minor to Plymouth State junior forward Brooke Maggy. Amato and senior forward Alex Brolsma (Bloomington, Minn.) teamed up to win a battle in the right-wing corner, with the latter touching the puck to the former. Amato then curled out into the right circle and snapped the shot which finally beat Plymouth State junior goaltender Emelie Lindqvist. It was Amato's sixth goal of the season, as she tied Brolsma for the team lead.

The Ravens would tack on an insurance marker just 98 seconds later, at 16:52, to create the 2-0 final. Taking possession in the right-wing corner, freshman forward Haley Parker (Londonderry, N.H.) slung a pass out front, looking for sophomore forward Meg Gilbride (Braintree, Mass.). Gilbride could not control the puck and was only able to deflect it in the slot. An immediate failed clear attempt by the Panther defenseman on the scene left the puck on the stick of Drowne in the left circle. Drowne stepped into a shot from there and fired the puck towards the traffic in front, where Brolsma was locked up with a defenseman. The puck wound up deflecting off the defenseman and beyond Lindqvist, for Drowne's second goal of the season.

Freshman goaltender Kelly Turney (Fort Gratiot, Mich.) was rarely tested on the way to her first collegiate shutout, as she stopped all 12 shots on her goal to pick up the win (2-3-1).

Lindqvist (2-3-2) did everything she could at the other end of the ice to keep Plymouth State in the game, as she was under siege from the get-go. She finished with 46 saves against 48 shots in the losing effort. Facing a high volume of shots has been a theme for Lindqvist in the Panther net, as it marked only her third-highest save total so far this season, in nine starts. It was her sixth career outing of 40 or more saves. 

The Ravens return to the ice on Saturday, Dec. 9, when they travel to Salem State. Opening faceoff is set for 2 p.m. at Rockett Ice Arena in Salem, 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).