Ravens return home with five-goal victory

WINCHENDON, Mass. (January 29, 2011) – After over a month on the road, the Franklin Pierce University ice hockey team put on a show at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena in its return home on 'Pierce Pride Night' on Saturday night. Sophomore forward Roscoe Sweeney (Falmouth, Mass.) scored twice and added a pair of assists for a four-point night, while sophomore forward Adam Dallaire (Waltham, Mass.) scored twice and sophomore forward Michael Carr (South Boston, Mass.) chipped in three assists. Franklin Pierce scored three power-play goals and added a shorthanded tally on the night.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 4-16-0 (3-4-0 Northeast-10), while Stonehill falls to 3-12-1 (2-3-1 Northeast-10). The teams have now split their first two meetings of the season, with the rubber game being the season finale on Feb. 19 at Stonehill. The winner of that game will collect the two points in the Northeast-10 standings awarded to the winner of the season series.

The Ravens struck early in the first period to pick up the only goal of the opening frame. Dallaire was at the bottom of the left circle and stuffed home the rebound of a shot from junior forward Pat Shortt (New Haven, Conn.) to score his fifth goal of the season at the 2:53 mark. Franklin Pierce would not relinquish the lead the rest of the way.

The Ravens were dominant in stretches of the second period, despite a parade to the penalty box, as they ran off three goals to take a 4-0 lead into the locker room at the second intermission. Sweeney started things with a power-play marker just 25 seconds into the middle stanza. He stuffed home a rebound from just outside the crease for his team-leading eighth goal of the season, while Carr and sophomore defenseman Brendan McCarron (Andover, Mass.) added the assists. Just under five minutes later, Shortt added a goal of his own, his fifth of the season at the 5:10 mark, as he put home a shot from the bottom of the right circle off a feed from sophomore forward Dino Federico (Canton, Mass.). McCarron's goal chased Stonehill senior goaltender Derek Chapdelaine from the net in favor of junior Tyler Jackson.

Sweeney would net his second goal of the period at the 12:30 mark. With the Ravens shorthanded by two men, he forced a turnover in the neutral zone and sprung himself on a breakaway the other way, where he beat Jackson to give Franklin Pierce a four-goal lead.

The third period featured power-play tallies on both sides of the ledger, with the Ravens picking up two to Stonehill's one to create the 6-1 final. Dallaire opened the final frame's scoring at the 3:30 mark when he banged home a rebound for his sixth goal of the season, while Carr and Sweeney picked up the assists. At 4:13, Stonehill answered with its lone goal of the game, the second of the season for sophomore defenseman J.J. Sabin. He let loose a cannonade from the left point which found its way through traffic and into the net, while junior forward Pat Greene and senior forward Angelo Todesca added the assists.

McCarron capped the scoring with his second of the season at the 12:43 mark, while Carr and Sweeney added assists to finish off three- and four-point nights, respectively.

Freshman goaltender Dave O'Brien (Groton, Mass.) made 28 saves and picked up the win (4-4-0) in net for Franklin Pierce. Chapdelaine started, made eight saves and took the loss (1-5-1) between the pipes for Stonehill. Jackson made 12 saves in relief over the final 34:50.

Stonehill posted a 29-26 advantage in shots on goal on the night and went 1-for-9 on the power play, but surrendered a shorthanded goal along the way. Franklin Pierce finished 3-for-7 with the man-advantage.

The Ravens return to the ice on Tuesday, Feb. 1, when they travel to University of New England for a non-conference contest. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Biddeford Ice Arena in Biddeford, Maine. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on Saturday, Feb. 12 against Assumption at 7 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics).