Carr ties game in third, wins it in overtime

Box Score

WINCHENDON, Mass. (November 6, 2009) – Freshman forward Michael Carr (South Boston, Mass.) stuffed home a rebound for his second goal of the night with just over three seconds remaining in overtime on Friday night to give the Franklin Pierce University ice hockey team a 5-4 victory over Johnson & Wales in non-conference play at The Winchendon School Ice Arena. Freshman forward Jason Pietrasiak scored twice and added an assist for Johnson & Wales in defeat. The game was the season-opener for both teams.

The two clubs traded goals in the first four minutes of the contest. Just 2:19 into the opening frame, sophomore forward Patrick Shortt (New Haven, Conn.) opened the scoring for Franklin Pierce with a snapshot from the left wing off a feed from fellow sophomore forward Anthony Chighisola (Whitman, Mass.). However, Johnson & Wales would answer just 94 seconds later. The Wildcats moved the puck quickly on the power play, as junior forward Craig Houle gave it to sophomore forward Jerimiah Ketts, who sent it to freshman defenseman Trevor Jewell, who fired a laser to the back of the net to knot the game at 1-1.

In the second period, the two teams would combine for five goals, including three in the opening eight minutes of the stanza. Johnson & Wales took a 2-1 lead with power-play tally at the 5:25 mark. Houle finished with a one-timer into the empty net from just outside the left post off a crisp passing setup from Pietrasiak and Jewell.

Franklin Pierce would then jump to the lead with a pair of quick goals two minutes later. At the 7:21 mark, freshman defenseman Brendan McCarron (Andover, Mass.) found the net from the left point on assists from sophomore forward Nathaniel Schursky (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and sophomore defenseman Michael King (Center Conway, N.H.). Just 21 seconds later, Chighisola got his stick to the puck amidst a scramble out front and poked it in from just outside the right post. Freshman forward Adam Dallaire (Waltham, Mass.) and McCarron picked up the assists on the play.

Johnson & Wales would answer with a pair of goals in the second half of the second period to take a 4-3 lead into the second intermission. Pietrasiak scored both of the goals, the first coming at the 11:47 mark as he cut through the high slot and redirected a feed from Jewell at the point behind Franklin Pierce sophomore goaltender Ben Siok (Holden, Mass.) to tie the game at 3-3. Pietrasiak would later give the Wildcats the lead with 2:17 to play in the frame following failed breakout attempt by the Ravens. A turnover led to a three-on-one in the offensive end for Johnson & Wales and senior defenseman Shane Poulin got the puck to Ketts, who found Pietrasiak all alone in front of Siok. Pietrasiak faked to the left post, and then pushed the puck out, around the netminder and into the net to give the Wildcats the lead.

The Ravens evened things up quickly coming out of the intermission, as Carr notched the first goal of his career just 26 seconds into the third stanza. He found the twine on a blast from the left wing off assists from freshman forward Roscoe Sweeney (Falmouth, Maine) and senior defenseman Steve Della-Calce (East Stroudsburg, Pa.).

After the remainder of the third and a vast majority of the five-minute overtime went without another goal, it was Carr who found the net again to provide the late-game heroics. Chighisola had the puck on his stick in the right circle and had his first shot attempt blocked by the Johnson & Wales defense. However, it came right back to his stick and his second shot attempt got through. It was turned aside by Johnson & Wales junior goaltender JR Woodland, but Carr was waiting on the doorstep and stuffed it home with less than four seconds to play to give Franklin Pierce the victory.

Siok made 30 saves to earn the win (1-0-0) between the pipes for Franklin Pierce. Woodland stopped 24 shots and took the loss (0-1-0) in front of the Johnson & Wales net.

Johnson & Wales held a 34-29 edge in shots on goal in the contest and went 2-for-6 on the power play. Franklin Pierce did not score in six attempts with the man-advantage.

The Ravens return to the ice on Saturday, Nov. 7, when they travel to Fitchburg State for a non-conference contest. Faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Wallace Civic Center in Fitchburg, Mass. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on Nov. 17 against Southern New Hampshire at 7 p.m.