Anthony Chighisola tallies goal, assist for Ravens

Box Score

WINCHENDON, Mass. (February 12, 2009) – Junior forward Ryan DiBartolomeo (Leominster, Mass./New England Huskies) collected a goal and two assists on Thursday night to lead Southern New Hampshire to a 6-3 win over the Franklin Pierce University ice hockey team in Northeast-10 Conference play at The Winchendon School Ice Arena. Freshman forward Anthony Chighisola (Whitman, Mass./Williston Northampton) tallied a goal and an assist for Franklin Pierce in defeat.

Southern New Hampshire took command early with three goals in the opening period. First, sophomore forward Brandon Sheehan (Bedford, Mass./New England Huskies) scored his fourth of the season from the high slot off a centering feed from junior forward Thomas Ohlson (York, Maine/Bridgton Academy) just 1:56 into the game. At the 13:36 mark, DiBartolomeo unleashed a rocket from the point which found its way through traffic and into the net for a power play goal. Sophomore forwards Troy Maybury (South Portland, Maine/Bridgton Academy) and Andrew Hildreth (Leominster, Mass./New England Huskies) provided the assists on DiBartolomeo’s sixth of the season. Junior forward John Frey (Westminster, Colo./Cushing Academy) made it 3-0 with some fancy stick-handling as he danced to the top of the crease from the left wing and slipped home his seventh of the season. DiBartolomeo and senior defenseman Dave Carroll (Arlington, Mass./Bridgton Academy) notched the assists at the 18:01 mark.

The Penmen extended the lead to 4-0 just 1:40 into the second frame when sophomore forward Bob Bryant (Nashua, N.H./New England Huskies) scored his third of the year from the bottom of the left circle off a feed from freshman forward Mark Smith (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./CD Selects). Franklin Pierce would score two goals over the remainder of the period to cut the lead to 4-2 before the second intermission. First, senior forward Shane Murphy (Tolland, Conn./The Gunnery School) took a centering feed from senior forward Jay Stempniak (West Seneca, N.Y./St. Francis HS), deked around the goaltender and stuffed home his seventh of the season. Graduate forward Ryan Strayer (Murfreesboro, Tenn./New England Jr. Coyotes (EJHL)) picked up the secondary assist at the 4:20 mark. With 3:14 to play in the period, sophomore defenseman J.P. Gasparrini (Medway, Mass./Medway) rifled home his first career goal through traffic from the left point off a pass from Chighisola.

Southern New Hampshire regained a three-goal lead with just 5:29 remaining in regulation when Maybury scored his 13th of the year on a snap-shot from the left-wing circle off a feed from freshman defenseman Anthony Dercole (Hamden, Conn./CD Selects). Franklin Pierce cut the lead to 5-3 on with 3:19 to play when Chighisola scored his team-leading 12th of the season from the top of the crease. Junior forward Phil LaBreck (Thornton, N.H./John Stark Regional) picked up the assist on the power-play goal. Southern New Hampshire added a short-handed, empty-net goal by freshman defenseman Frank O’Connor (Arlington, Mass./South Kent) with 57 seconds to play to create the 6-3 final. DiBartolomeo provided the lone assist on O’Connor’s second goal of the season.

Each team recorded 30 shots on goal in the game, while each went 1-for-5 on the power play as well.

Junior goaltender Shane Brooks (Kennebunk, Maine/Northern Cyclones) made 27 saves in net for Southern New Hampshire to earn the victory. Junior Jon Tuttle (Concord, N.H./Concord) started between the pipes for Franklin Pierce and made five saves against eight shots in the first period. Freshman Ben Siok (Holden, Mass./St. John’s Shrewsbury) minded the net the rest of the way, stopped 19 of the 21 shots he faced and took the loss.

The Ravens (5-14-2, 1-3-0 NE-10, 4-8-2 ECAC Northeast) return to the ice on Saturday, Feb. 14, when host Stonehill in a Northeast-10 Conference contest. Faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at The Winchendon School Ice Arena. Southern New Hampshire (7-11-1, 3-2-0 NE-10, 6-7-1 ECAC Northeast) returns to action on Feb. 14 at home against Wentworth.