WINCHENDON, MASS. (Jan. 25, 2003) - The Franklin Pierce men's ice hockey team fell to Nichols College, 7-4, in ECAC Northeast Conference action at the Robinson Broadhurst Community Rink this evening.

Junior Shawn Fehr netted a pair of goals to lead the Bison, while classmate Dave Abramo recorded a goal and an assist in the win. Freshman David Berardinelli chipped in a goal and two helpers.

Franklin Pierce juniorSam Burr (Kingston, N.Y./Newburgh Polar Bears) netted the first goal of his colligate career, while Mark Gibbons (Quincy, Mass./Archbishop Williams) registered his first marker of the season.

The team battled through a first period that was marred by a combined 13 penalties, but the Bison finally drew first blood at the 16:21 mark. Junior Steve Glavin knocked in the initial shot by Bernardinelli to make the score 1-0.

Nichols struck early in the second, as junior Mike Loftus one-timed a pass from teammate Rob Erdmann off of the face-off, just 15 seconds into the middle period.

The Bison tacked on almost an identical goal just a minute later, as junior Brett Urban ripped a shot off of the face off to take the three-goal advantage.

The Ravens responded midway through the second as Nichols goaltender, Matt Altieri bobbled a pass in front of the net on the Bison power play. Burr picked up the loose puck and buried it to cut Nichols lead to two with a shorthanded tally.

The Bison regained the three-goal lead as Fehr converted on an initial shot by Glavin at the 11:41 mark. The Ravens fought back, however, as Gibbons deked Altieri and backhanded a shot to the upper left corner at the 12:59 mark.

Fehr helped Nichols pull ahead by three once again as connected with Abramo two minutes later, but Franklin Pierce freshman Matt Clemente (Middletown, N.J./Laconia Leafs) closed the gap to two with his ninth of the season to close out the second period.

Just as Franklin Pierce started to gain momentum, the Bison tacked on two goals in the third to make the final, Nichols 7, Franklin Pierce 4.

Franklin Pierce junior, Andy Tinti (Buffalo, N.Y./SUNY-Canton) made 39 stops in net for the Ravens, while Altieri made 18 saves for his first win of the season.

Franklin Pierce (0-15-1, 0-10-1 ECAC NE) returns to the ice on Thursday, January 30, when it travels to Worcester State College for a Conference match-up at 7 p.m. Nichols (2-11-2, 1-8-1 ECAC NE) travels to Fitchburg State College on Tuesday, January 28 for a Conference game at 7 p.m.

Nichols 7, Franklin Pierce 3