Cavanagh's late goal lifts Leopards past Ravens

BOSTON, Mass. (Jan. 20, 2005) - The Franklin Pierce ice hockey team dropped a 5-4 heartbreaker to the Wentworth Institute of Technology in ECAC Northeast competition tonight at the Matthews Arena in Boston, Mass. Junior Mark Cavanagh (Warwick, R.I./Toll Gate) scored a power play goal at the 18:59 mark of the third period to break a 4-4 tie, and the Leopards held the Ravens scoreless for the final minute of play to preserve their undefeated conference record.

Cavanagh totaled a game-best three points on two goals and an assist, while senior Jayden Der (New Westminster, British Columbia/Golden) dished out three assists. Classmate Shawn Metheral (Delta, British Columbia/Chilliwack) and junior Mike Prsa (Woodbridge, Ontario/St. Michael's) added two points apiece for the hosts.

Sophomores C.J. Demmons (Wolfeboro, N.H./Kimball Union) and Jameson Wheatley (Scarboro, Maine/Portland Jr. Pirates) led the Ravens with three points apiece. Demmons netted two goals along with an assist, while Wheatley tallied a goal and a pair of helpers. Classmate Brian DelSavio (Orangeburg, N.Y./Pearl River) chipped in with two assists for the visitors.

The game went scoreless until the 15:27 mark of the first period, when junior Vince Guiducci (Hamilton, Ontario/Milton) took advantage of a power play opportunity to give Wentworth the early lead.

Franklin Pierce knotted the score at one on a Trevor Clark (Randolph, Mass./Randolph) goal at the 11:25 mark of the second period and took their only lead of the game, when Demmons scored his first goal of the game less than five minutes later.

Wentworth exploded for three goals over the first 7:51 of the third period to take a 4-2 lead. Freshman Matt Koehler (Pembroke, Mass./Walpole) started the run with a shot-handed goal just 51 seconds into the period, and Metheral scored the go-ahead goal less than four minutes later. Cavanagh netted his first goal of the game to cap off the rally.

The Ravens fought back to tie the score at four on goals by Wheatley and Demmons in the eighth and 12^th minutes of the third period respectively before Cavanagh capitalized on a Mike Anderson (Keene, N.H./Laconia Leafs) hooking penalty to tally the game-winner.

Wentworth out-shot the Ravens 39-21. Leopards freshman goaltender Ryan Van Schoick (Quechee, Vt./Northfield Mt. Hermon) saved 10 shots in the first two periods before giving way to senior Bryce McFadden (Saanichton, British Columbia/Lloydminster), who saved seven shots in the third period en route to his sixth victory of the year. Franklin Pierce junior netminder Dennis Millman (Billerica, Mass./Kimball Union) took the loss despite saving 34 shots in 59:37 minutes of play. 

Franklin Pierce (4-9-0, 1-3-0 NE-10, 3-6-0 ECAC NE) will take the ice again on Saturday, when they host ECAC Northeast Conference foe Nichols College at 6 p.m. Wentworth (9-6-0, 6-0-0 ECAC NE) will also be in action on Saturday, when they play their second of six straight road games against Conference opponent Curry College at 2 p.m.

Game Statistics

Wentworth 5, Franklin Pierce 4

Scoring Summary

First Period:
WIT: Vince Guiducci (Brad Carpenter) 15:27 PP

Second Period:
FP: Trevor Clark (Chris Pryputniewicz) 11:25
FP: C.J. Demmons (Mark Gibbons, Jameson Wheatley) 16:10

Third Period:
WIT: Matt Koehler (Mark Cavanagh) 00:51 SH
WIT: Shawn Metheral (Mike Prsa, Jayden Der) 4:22
WIT: Cavanagh (Der, Metheral) 7:51
FP: Wheatley (Demmons, Brian DelSavio) 8:40
FP: Demmons (Wheatley, DelSavio) 12:30
WIT: Cavanagh (Prsa, Der) 18:59 PP

Goaltenders:
FP: Dennis Millman (59:37) 34 saves
FP: Empty Net (00:23)
WIT: Ryan Van Schoick (40:00) 10 saves
WIT: Bryce McFadden (20:00) 7 saves

Shots on Goal:
FP: 6-6-9-21
WIT: 12-16-11-39