Curran leads Skyhawks with a game-high four points

WINCHENDON, Mass. (Feb. 11, 2006) - The Franklin Pierce Ice Hockey team suffered a tough 5-3 loss to Stonehill College in ECAC Northeast Conference action this afternoon at the Robinson-Broadhurst Arena. Skyhawk sophomore Matt Curran (Scarborough, Maine/N. Yarmouth Academy) led all scorers, registering a game-high four points, on one goal and three assists.

Stonehill opened the scoring towards the end of the first period, as senior Brian Dudley (Waltham, Mass./Waltham) netted his first of two goals on the day at 18:08 into the first period, off assists from Curran and freshman Brendan O'Brien (Braintree, Mass./Xaverian).

Franklin Pierce fired back in the second period, opening the period with two quick goals. Freshman Ed Kus (Webster, Mass./Norwich Ice Breakers) started the scoring for the Ravens just 2:45 into the period as he notched his first collegiate goal off an assist from senior tri-captain Jason Pierce (Maynard, Mass./Nashoba Regional). Less than a minute later, freshman Shane Murphy (Tolland, Conn./The Gunnery School) also added his first collegiate goal off assists from juniors Brad Leighton (Cumberland, Mass./East Coast Rangers) and C.J. Demmons (Wolfeboro, N.H./Kimball Union) to give Franklin Pierce a 2-1 advantage.

Two minutes later, Stonehill retaliated as senior captain Brian Lewis (Acushnet, Mass./Bridgton Academy) registered his team-leading 16^th goal of the season to knot the game at 2-2. Franklin Pierce rallied late in the period to take a 3-2 advantage into the third frame, as sophomore Joe Fields (Wallingford, Pa./Green Mountain Glades) notched his team-leading 11^th goal of the season. 

In the third period, Stonehill would take control of the lead, as the Skyhawks registered three unanswered goals, including an empty-netter at the end of the period. O'Brien started the third period scoring for the Skyhawks just 7:54 into the period and seven minutes later, Dudley recorded his second goal of the game, to secure the win for the Skyhawks.

Franklin Pierce goaltender Robert Arduini (Fulton, N.Y./Gray Bradley) was solid in net, despite the loss. The senior goaltender stopped 46 shots in the game. Stonehill junior goaltender Matt Gorman (Southboro, Mass./St. John's) registered 35 saves in the game en route to his third win of the season. 

Franklin Pierce (1-15-4, 0-11-3 ECAC NE, 1-3-0 NE-10) will take the ice again Monday as it hosts Fitchburg State College at 7 p.m. in the Ravens final home game of the season. Stonehill College (13-7-0, 10-6-0 ECAC NE, 3-1-0 NE-10) will be in action on Wednesday as it hosts Nichols College at 8:15 p.m.

GAME STATISTICS

Stonehill 5, Franklin Pierce 3
Stonehill College (13-7-0, 10-6-0 ECAC NE)             1          1          3          -           5
Franklin Pierce    (1-15-4, 0-11-3 ECAC NE)             0          3          0          -           3

Scoring Summary
First Period: STO: Brian Dudley (Matt Curran, Brendan O'Brien), 18:08
Second Period: FP: Ed Kus (Jason Pierce), 2:45; FP: Shane Murphy (Brad Leighton, C.J. Demmons), 3:24; STO: Brian Lewis (Anthony Zanetti, Matt Pollara), 5:07; FP: Joseph Fields (Ben Reynolds, Peter Wilson), 17:41
Third Period:: STO: O'Brien (Curran, James Killeen), 7:54; STO: Dudley (John Durkin, Curran), 14:56; STO: Curran (18:56)
OT: No Scoring
Goaltenders:
FP: Rob Arduini (58:30), 46 saves
STO: Matt Gorman (60:00), 35 saves
Shots on Goal:
FP: 18-13-7-38
STO: 13-21-17-51
Three Stars:
First Star: Matt Curran (STO)
Second Star: Brian Dudley (STO)
Third Star: Brendan O'Brien (STO)