McCarron, Sweeney collect two points each

Box Score

BUFFALO, N.Y. (January 9, 2010) – Senior forwards D’Arcy Thomas and Connor King tallied three points apiece, each on one goal and two assists on Saturday, to lead Buffalo State to a 6-1 victory over the Franklin Pierce University ice hockey team in non-conference play at Buffalo State Ice Arena. Senior forward Phil LaBreck (Thornton, N.H.) scored the lone goal of the game for Franklin Pierce in defeat.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 3-9-2 (1-3-1 Northeast-10), while Buffalo State improves to 5-9-1 (2-6-0 SUNYAC) with the victory.

Buffalo State wasted no time opening the scoring, as sophomore forward Jim Durham picked up his fourth of the season on assists from freshman forward Drew Kiln and King just 38 seconds into the contest. Senior defenseman Tyler Soehner would make it 2-0 with a power-play goal at the 12:39 mark. King picked up his second assist of the period on Soehner’s first goal of the season, which would eventually prove to be the game-winner.

Franklin Pierce would briefly cut the lead in half with a goal 2:12 into the second period. LaBreck notched his fourth of the season on the power play, while sophomore forward Justin Adams (Homer, Alaska) and sophomore forward Nate Schursky (Scottsdale, Ariz.) added the assists. However, Buffalo State would reclaim the two-goal lead 1:49 later and add two more goals later in the period to take a 5-1 lead and effectively put the game out of reach. Junior forward Joel Sheppard scored his fifth of the season at the 4:01 mark, while Thomas picked up the lone assist. Later in the period, King completed his three-point night with his third goal of the season at the 11:57 mark, while Thomas scored his fifth of the season at 17:21. Sheppard added an assist on Thomas’ goal to complete his two-point evening.

Junior forward Kyle Granville added an insurance marker 4:54 into the third period for Buffalo State to create the 6-1 final. Thomas and senior defenseman Shareef Labreche picked up assists on Granville’s third of the season.

Senior goaltender Jon Tuttle (Concord, N.H.) made 30 saves, but took the loss (2-4-0) in net for Franklin Pierce. Sophomore Alan Fritch made 17 saves to pick up the win (5-8-1) between the pipes for Buffalo State.

Buffalo State posted a 36-18 advantage in shots on goal in the game and went 2-for-7 on the power play. Franklin Pierce finished 1-for-7 with the man-advantage.

The Ravens return to the ice on Tuesday, Jan. 12, when they return home to host University of New England in a non-conference contest. Faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at The Winchendon School Ice Arena in Winchendon, Mass.