Phil LaBreck picks up three points for Ravens

Box Score

MANCHESTER, N.H. (February 3, 2009) – Senior forward Tom Kerwin (Whitman, Mass./Boston Bulldogs) scored his second goal of the game 30 seconds into overtime on Tuesday night to lead Saint Anselm to a 5-4 victory over the Franklin Pierce University ice hockey team in Northeast-10 Conference play at Thomas F. Sullivan Arena. Junior forward Phil LaBreck (Thornton, N.H./John Stark Regional) scored twice and added an assist for Franklin Pierce in defeat.

Franklin Pierce opened to the scoring 3:11 into the contest when LaBreck netted his sixth of the season, with assists going to freshman forward Anthony Chighisola (Whitman, Mass./Williston Northampton) and freshman forward Pat Shortt (North Branford, Conn./Southern Conn. Stars). However, Saint Anselm would counter with a pair of power-play goals to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. First, sophomore defenseman Nick Wheeler (Nashua, N.H./New England Jr. Huskies) scored his sixth of the season on assists from sophomore forward Coleman Noonan (Norfolk, Mass./Catholic Memorial) and senior defenseman Mike Nunzianto (Guilford, Conn./Conn. Wolves) at the 6:10 mark. Just under four minutes later, Kerwin struck for his third of the season off feeds from sophomore forward Zachary Feiden (Delray, Fla./Tabor Academy) and junior defenseman Seth Goodrich (Salisbury, Vt./Vermont Glades).

LaBreck answered for the Ravens to tie the game 2-2 at the 7:31 mark of the second period as Chighisola collected his second assist of the night. Franklin Pierce would take the lead once again with 2:53 to play in the second on the first goal of the season for junior defenseman Steve Della-Calce (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Pope John XXIII), while sophomore forward Sean Woodring (Rogue River, Ore./Rogue River) and senior forward Coursen Schneider (Stony Point, N.Y./Avon (Conn.) Old Farms) tallied the assists. Saint Anselm tied the game 3-3 just 1:18 later when senior forward Joe Fernald (Braintree, Mass./Boston Bulldogs) scored his fourth goal of the season off assists from sophomore defenseman John Hennessey (Westwood, Mass./Thayer Academy) and Nunzianto, who tallied his second helper of the game.

The two clubs would trade a pair of power-play goals in the final frame of regulation. The Hawks briefly took a 4-3 lead at the 10:28 mark of the third period on Wheeler’s second goal of the contest, while Noonan and sophomore forward Ryan Butler (Arlington, Mass./Avon Old Farms) picked up the assists. Franklin Pierce answered just 40 seconds later to tie the game as Schneider scored his sixth goal of the year and LaBreck picked up an assist to complete his three-point game.

However, Saint Anselm would skate away with the 5-4 victory as Kerwin potted his second of the night just 30 seconds into the extra frame. Butler and Fernald tallied the assists on the game-winning goal.

Saint Anselm finished with a 45-28 edge in shots on goal and went 3-for-5 on the power play. Franklin Pierce posted a 1-for-4 mark with the man-advantage.

Sophomore goaltender Alex Wyse (Amherst, N.Y./Clarkson) made 24 saves in net for Saint Anselm to earn the victory. Freshman Ben Siok (Holden, Mass./St. John’s Shrewsbury) took the loss between the pipes for Franklin Pierce, despite making 40 saves.

The Ravens (5-12-2, 1-2-0 NE-10, 4-7-2 ECAC Northeast) return to the ice on Saturday, Feb. 7, when they travel to Massachusetts Dartmouth for an ECAC Northeast Conference contest. Faceoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at Hetland Arena in New Bedford, Mass. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on Feb. 12 against Southern New Hampshire at 7 p.m. Saint Anselm (6-10-1, 3-0-0 NE-10, 4-8-1 ECAC Northeast) returns to action on Feb. 6 at Babson.