FitzPatrick, Shortt net goals

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (January 31, 2012) – Sophomore goaltender Dave O'Brien (Groton, Mass.) made 35 saves on Tuesday night, but the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team dropped a 5-2 decision to Saint Michael's in Northeast-10 Conference play at Cairns Arena. Sophomore forward Ryan Arsenault scored the game-winning goal and added an assist as one of four Saint Michael's players to tally two points in the win.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 4-10-4 (3-3-2 Northeast-10), while Saint Michael's improves to 6-10-2 (2-1-1 Northeast-10). Saint Michael's earns two points in the Northeast-10 standings with the victory.

The Ravens opened the scoring with the only two goals of the first period. At the 7:27 mark, senior forward Pat Shortt (New Haven, Conn.) got things started with a shorthanded goal, the first of the season for Franklin Pierce on the penalty kill. Sophomore forward Brandon Dennis (Williamsport, Md.) picked up the lone assist on Shortt's second of the season, and second in as many games. Freshman defenseman Brendan FitzPatrick (Winthrop, Mass.) doubled the lead with his first career goal at the 16:57 mark, off assists from senior forwards Justin Adams (Homer, Alaska) and Bill Sullivan (Pittsburgh, Pa.).

The Ravens would hold the 2-0 lead through the midpoint of the game before Saint Michael's began to mount its comeback. At the 10:30 mark of the second stanza, junior forward Rich Rodeschini got the Purple Knights on the board with an unassisted tally, his second goal of the season. With 2:57 to play in the frame, junior forward Alex Davidson would draw Saint Michael's even with his first goal of the season, while freshman defensemen Mark Higgins and Eric Robinson contributed the assists.

Just 3:24 into the third period, Arsenault broke up the 2-2 tie and gave the Purple Knights the lead for good with his fourth of the season, as Rodeschini and junior forward Michael Jangro assisted on the play.

Saint Michael's added a pair of insurance goals just 76 seconds apart later in the third to create the 5-2 final. At the 12:58 mark, junior defenseman Dan Evarts converted on the power play for his third of the season, off assists from junior defenseman Connor Logan and junior forward Josh Geary. At the 14:14 mark, Jangro put home his fourth of the season, as Logan and Arsenault assisted.

O'Brien made 35 saves on the night, but took the loss (2-4-3) between the pipes for Franklin Pierce. Junior goaltender Mike Dizgun turned aside 22 shots to pick up the win (5-9-2) in front of the Saint Michael's net.

Saint Michael's posted a 40-26 advantage in shots on goal in the game and went 1-for-6 on the power play. Franklin Pierce finished 0-for-3 with the man-advantage.

The Ravens return to the ice on Saturday, Feb. 4, when they return home to host Stonehill in a Northeast-10 Conference contest. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena in Winchendon.

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).