FRAMINGHAM, MASS. (Feb. 5, 2004) - After holding a 2-1 lead after one, Franklin Pierce fell to Framingham State 6-3 in ECAC Northeast Conference ice hockey action this evening at Loring Arena.

Ben Colby (Newbury, Massachusetts / Triton Regional) led the Rams with two goals, including the game-winner, while Roger LeBlanc (Beverly, Massachusetts / Winchedon) had a goal and two assists on the night.

Junior Matt DePuydt (Houghton, Mich./SUNY Canton) led the Ravens with two points on a goal and an assist. Sophomore Rob Pendola (Everett, Mass./Mass Mariners) and freshman David St. Lawrence (Holyoke, Mass./Springfield Pics) each tallied goals, while freshmen C.J. Demmons (Wolfeboro, N.H./Kimball Union), Pat Martin (Marblehead, Mass./Marblehead), Ryan Boudreau (Wilmington, Mass./Bridgton Academy) and Matt Groh (West Palm Beach, Fla./Laconia Leafs) added an assist apiece.

Franklin Pierce went into the first intermission leading 2-1 on St. Lawrence's first collegiate goal at 12:39 from Martin and Pendola's seventh of the season at 19:32 from Boudreau and DePuydt on the power play.

However, the Rams exploded for three goals in the second period to take the lead and they never looked back.  LeBlanc, opened the scoring in the stanza off a pass from Donald Morgan (Burlington, Massachusetts / Burlington).  Morgan then scored just 22 seconds later to give the Rams the advantage. Colby added his second goal of the night with 7 minutes remaining to give Framingham State a 4-2 lead after two.   

The Rams added two insurance goals in the third and DePuydt scored the lone goal for Franklin Pierce in the period from Demmons and Groh at 11:05 to round out the scoring.

Ravens senior goaltenderAndy Tinti (Buffalo, N.Y./SUNY Canton) stopped 29 shots in net and Josh Wallace (Somerville, Massachusetts / Arlington Catholic) picked up the win and made 19 saves. Matt Pettinato (Hudson, New Hampshire / Bishop Guertin) relieved him with just under four minutes remaining in regulation and did not face a shot.

Franklin Pierce (3-15, 1-13 ECAC Northeast, 0-5 NE-10) next hosts an ECAC Northeast matchup against UMass Dartmouth on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Framingham State's (8-9-1, 7-2-1 ECAC Northeast) next game is Tuesday, February10^th against Stonehill College.

Framingham State 6, Franklin Pierce 3

Scoring Summary

First Period: FSC, Ben Colby (Tim Richard, Roger LeBlanc) 4:44; FPC, David St. Lawrence (Pat Martin) 12:39; FP
Robert Pendola (Ryan Boudreau, Matt DePuydt) 19:32 PP.

Second Period: FSC, LeBlanc (Donald Morgan) 6:38 PP; FSC, Morgan (Mike Sargent) 7:00; FSC, Colby (LeBlanc) 13:34.

Third Period: FSC, Tyson Knudsen (Greg Brogan, Ryan Murray) 1:54; FSC, Craig Stern (Dan Richard, Sargent) 8:06; FPC, Matt DePuydt (C.J. Demmons, Matt Groh) 11:05.

Goaltenders: FPC, Andy Tinti (L, 2-7-0) 29 saves 60:00; FSC, Josh Wallace (W, 5-4-0) 19 saves 56:21; Matt Pettinato, 0 saves 3:39.