Fitchburg State Stuns Franklin Pierce, 6-3
Freshman Matt Clemente nets first career hat trick
WINCHENDON, MASS. (Jan. 8, 2003) - The Franklin Pierce men's ice hockey team suffered a heartbreaking 6-3 loss to Fitchburg State College in ECAC Northeast Conference ice hockey action at the Robinson-Broadhurst Community Rink this evening.
Leading scorer, freshman Matt Clemente (Middletown, N.J./Laconia Leafs) netted his first career hat trick, scoring all three Franklin Pierce goals in the second period. Newcomer, Chris Pryputniewicz (Berlin, Conn./Fitchburg State) recorded two assists in his first game as a Raven.
Fitchburg State's Sebastien Corbeil recorded two goals, including the game winner, and an assist to lead the Falcons.
The Falcons led by one after the first intermission as junior John Gamble converted feeds from senior Greg Horan and sophomore Chad Fletcher on the power play.
The Ravens came out gunning in the second period, as Clemente registered his first goal of the night at the three minute mark to knot the score 1-1.
The Falcons pulled ahead once again after Fletcher netted his ninth of the season off of a pass from Corbeil at the 12:24 mark.
Clemente helped the Ravens tie the game for the second time after scoring off of passes from Pryputniewicz and junior Mike Sabini (New Paltz, N.Y./Newburgh Polar Bears) just a minute later.
The tug of war continued in the second period as sophomore Bill Burns fired a shot past junior goaltender, Andy Tinti (Buffalo, N.Y./SUNY Canton) at the 15:36 mark to go ahead by one.
With 30 seconds left in the period, Clemente evened the score 3-3 and recorded his first career hat trick with a power play tally.
Franklin Pierce managed to hold off the Falcons through most of the third period, but Corbeil helped finish off the Ravens with two goals, including the gamewinner on the power play and an empty netter, to make the final, Fitchburg State 6, Franklin Pierce 3.
Tinti made 32 saves in net for the Ravens, while Fitchburg State senior, Jason Holt, made 23 saves for the win.
Franklin Pierce (0-9-1, 0-5-1) returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Plymouth State College for a non-conference battle at 6 p.m. Fitchburg State (7-3-1, 4-1-0 ECAC NE) next travels to Nichols College on Thursday, January 16, for a non-conference game at 5p.m.
Fitchburg State 6, Franklin Pierce 3
| Fitchburg State (7-3-1, 4-1-0 ECAC NE) | 1 | 2 | 3 | -- | 6 |
| Franklin Pierce (0-9-1, 0-5-1 ECAC NE) | 0 | 3 | 0 | -- | 3 |