Ravens stage third period comeback

WINCHENDON, Mass. (November 19, 2011) – With five seconds remaining in regulation on Saturday afternoon, sophomore forward Brandon Dennis (Williamsport, Md.) scored his first career goal to lift the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team to their first victory of the year with a 2-1 defeat of Southern New Hampshire in Northeast-10 Conference play at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. Franklin Pierce rallied from a 1-0 deficit over the final 10 minutes of the game.

The power-play goal came off the combination of senior forward Pat Shortt (New Haven, Conn.), who would pick up two assists on the evening, and sophomore defenseman Kyle Craig (Quincy, Mass.). The two set up a golden opportunity for Dennis, who buried a shot into the gaping net from the top of the crease.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 1-3-2 (1-0-1 Northeast-10), while Southern New Hampshire falls to 0-5-1 (0-2-0 Northeast-10). The two teams will meet later this season on Jan. 14 at Southern New Hampshire and on Feb. 18 back in Winchendon. The Ravens hold the advantage in the season series now, and need one more win or a pair of ties to come away with the two Northeast-10 standings points for the series victory.

After the opening stanza went without a goal, the Penmen would strike for the lone goal of the second period in a 4-on-4 situation. Sophomore forward Tyler Pascucci picked up his second goal of the season at 16:05 when he took a pass from classmate Douglas Haskins and fired a shot from the top of the left circle to give SNHU the 1-0 advantage that would hold for the remainder of the period.

The first half of the third period went without a goal as well, before the Ravens evened the score and set the stage for Dennis' late heroics. Junior forward Tyler Cornele (Cape Coral, Fla.) finished a scramble in front of the net at 10:50 for his third goal on the year to make it 1-1. Shortt and freshman defenseman Brendan FitzPatrick (Winthrop, Mass.) both grabbed assists on the play.

Sophomore goaltender Dave O'Brien (Groton, Mass.) made 21 saves to pick up the win (1-1-1) between the pipes for Franklin Pierce. Sophomore Tyler Holske stopped 29 shots and took the loss (0-5-0) in net for Southern New Hampshire.

Franklin Pierce posted a 31-22 advantage in shots on goal in the game and went 1-for-5 on the power play. Southern New Hampshire finished 0-for-5 with the man-advantage.

The Ravens return to the ice on Saturday, Dec. 3, when they remain home to host Stonehill in a Northeast-10 Conference contest. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena.

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).