Watts nets two goals for Purple Knights in regular season finale

WINCHENDON, Mass. (Feb. 23, 2005) - The Franklin Pierce ice hockey suffered a 5-2 defeat to Saint Michael's College tonight in Northeast-10 competition at the Robinson-Broadhurst Arena in Winchendon, Mass. Junior Alex Watts (Cheshire, Conn./Berkshire School (Mass.) collected two goals, including the game-winner for the Purple Knights, as both teams wrapped up their regular season slates.

Saint Michael's also received solid production from sophomores Derek Girouard (Methuen, Mass./(Central Catholic) and Jared Silver (Montreal, Quebec/Tabor Academy (Mass.). Girouard recorded two helpers, while Silver scored one goal and assisted on two others.

Sophomore Brad Leighton (Cumberland, Maine/East Coast Rangers) registered both goals for the Ravens, and freshman Peter Wilson (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) was credited with assists on each marker.   

Saint Michael's broke a scoreless tie 1:11 into the second period, when freshman Tim Dancey (Anaheim, Calif./Berkshire School (Mass.)) took feeds from senior Matt Anctil (Wolfboro, N.H./Exeter SnowDevils) and junior Nick Dancey (Anaheim, Calif./American International College). Leighton evened the score 1:38 later on assists by Wilson and junior Mark Gibbons (Quincy, Mass./Archbishop Williams).

Senior Chris Zimmerman (Montreal, Quebec/Tabor Academy (Mass.)) tallied at the 12:34 mark of the second period, giving Saint Michael's the 2-1 edge, and Watts netted what proved to be the game-winner less than a minute later.

Leighton's second marker brought the Ravens to within one goal heading into the second intermission, but Watts scored again 56 seconds into the third period and Silver added an empty net goal to give the Purple Knights a 5-2 victory.

The visitors out-shot Franklin Pierce 43-41. Saint Michael's sophomore goaltender Derek Jackson (Clinton, N.Y./Gunnery School) was solid between the pipes, saving 38 shots en route to earning the win. Ravens junior netminder Robert Arduini (Fulton, N.Y./G. Ray Bodley) suffered the loss despite stopping 39 shots.

Northeast-10 Tournament play begins this weekend. #5 Franklin Pierce (6-15-2, 1-4-0 NE-10, 4-10-1 ECAC NE) opens up with a quarterfinal matchup at #4 Assumption College  at 7:35 p.m. The winner of that game will go on to visit #1 Saint Anselm College for a semifinal clash on Wednesday. #2 Saint Michael's (8-15-2, 4-1-0 NE-10, 3-14-2 ECAC E) has earned a bye to Wednesday's semifinals and awaits the winner of the quarterfinal tilt between #3 Southern New Hampshire University and #6 Stonehill College. The Northeast-10 Championship is set for March 5 at the home rink of the highest remaining seed.

Game Statistics

Saint Michael's 5, Franklin Pierce 2

Scoring Summary

First Period:
No Scoring

Second Period:
SMC: Tim Dancey (Dan Anctil, Nick Dancey) 1:11
FPC: Brad Leighton (Peter Wilson, Mark Gibbons) 2:49
SMC: Chris Zimmerman (Derek Girouard, Jared Silver) 12:34
SMC: Alex Watts (unassisted) 13:30
FPC: Leighton (Wilson, Shawn Dooley) 18:25

Third Period:
SMC: Watts (Silver) 00:56
SMC: Silver (Girouard) 19:34 empty net

Goaltenders:
SMC: Derek Jackson (60:00) 39 saves, 2 goals against  
FPC: Robert Arduini (59:45) 38 saves, 4 goals against
FPC: Empty (00:15) 1 goal

Shots on Goal:
SMC: 12-19-12--43
FPC: 12-17-12--41

Three Stars:
1^st Star: Alex Watts (FPC)
2^nd Star: Brad Leighton (FPC)
3^rd Star:  Jared Silver (SMC)