BIDDEFORD, Maine (March 13, 2021) – The Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team travelled north on Saturday to take on the University of New England Nor'easters in the first of a two-game weekend set. UNE was propelled to a 6-4 win on the backs of juniors Brent Hill and Alexander Vukota, who each produced three-point performances. Senior defender Paul Antkowiak (Salem, N.H.) provided a goal and two assists in defeat for the Ravens at Alfond Forum.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 1-4-0, while UNE improves to 3-0-0. The two teams will meet again on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Alfond Forum. Sunday's contest will wrap up the Ravens' abbreviated season.

The two teams both put home multiple goals in the first period. The Ravens struck first, 5:36 into the first period, on a goal from freshman forward Bryce Chaput (Lancaster, Mass.). His third of the season came on assists from sophomore forward Jason Ladzinski (Norcross, Ga.) and Antkowiak.

Just over a minute later, at 6:54, the Nor'easters put their first goal in the back of the net. Junior forward Liam Darcy scored his second of the season off an assist from Vukota.

Franklin Pierce regained the lead thanks to Antowiak's first of the season just 58 seconds later. Junior forwards Chris Stevenson (Arvada, Colo.) and Ryan Gorbett (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) picked up the helpers.

The Nor'easters would score the next two goals to take a 3-2 lead into the first intermission. Both came from the stick of Hill, who struck at 12:56 to tie the game, and again on the power play at 16:22.

The second period did not see as many goals as the first, but it did not take long for UNE to extend its lead. Just 1:58 into the middle period, the Nor'easters made it 4-2 with a quick strike from Aaron Aragon, who had help from teammates Austin Morgan and Jake Fuss. UNE would later score a fourth straight goal, at 12:17, when Alden Weller picked up the first goal of his senior season.

Franklin Pierce would not go away easy, as the Ravens struck on either side of the second intermission to trim the lead to 5-4. With seven seconds remaining in the second, Antkowiak picked up his second assist of the day, as he and freshman Steven Wesley (Stoneham, Mass.) worked together to set up sophomore defenseman Josh Kippenhan (Hibbing, Minn.) for his first goal as a Raven, which was a shorthanded tally.

After the second intermission the Ravens got off to a hot start in the third, with a goal from Vito Carlo (Las Vegas, Nev.). Carlo's first career goal was assisted by Stevenson, and brought Franklin Pierce to within one, just 30 seconds into the final frame.

The Ravens were never able to find the tying marker though. UNE would score once more, on the power play at 11:08, to create the 6-4 final. Vokuta picked up his third point of the night with help from Hill and Justin Dixson. 

Senior goaltender Ian Wallace (West Islip, N.Y.) manned the crease for the Ravens and made 34 saves on 40 shots in the loss (0-2-0). Aiden Hosein (1-0-0) earned his first career win for UNE after making nine saves on 12 shots through two periods of work. Peter Ciccarelli stopped seven of eight shots in the third for the Nor'easters.