WINCHENDON, Mass. (November 15, 2019) – As far as November wins go, Friday night was a statement victory for the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team. Hosting a Sacred Heart team which is also expected to contend for the league title, the Ravens took care of business with minimal drama. Senior defenseman Bridgette Prentiss (Buffalo, N.Y.) scored twice and added an assist to lead the way, as Franklin Pierce posted a 34-22 shots advantage on the way to a 5-2 win in New England Women's Hockey Alliance play at the Jason Ritchie Ice Arena.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 7-2-0 (6-1-0 NEWHA), while Sacred Heart falls to 3-8-0 (2-3-0 NEWHA). The two teams will meet again on Saturday at the Jason Ritchie Ice Arena, with the opening faceoff set for 4 p.m.

Franklin Pierce needed just 2:40 to open the scoring, with an early power-play marker, as part of a 2-for-7 night with the man-advantage. Junior forward Marissa Massaro (Brockton, Mass.) won the right-wing faceoff to Prentiss, who sent the puck to the middle of the blue line for freshman defenseman Stefanie Caban (Fitchburg, Mass.). Caban put a low shot through traffic from there and tucked it inside the left post for her fourth goal of the season.

Sacred Heart leveled things at the 10:06 mark, with a power-play tally of its own. Sophomore defenseman Kelly Solak and senior forward Jayne Lewis played catch with the puck on the left side, before the former walked the puck out towards the center of the blue line. Solak's wrist shot from there found the top-left corner of the net for her second goal of the campaign.

Franklin Pierce went out front to stay at the 15:52 mark. Massaro worked to help dig the puck out in the right-wing corner and freshman forward Ava Kison (Eau Claire, Wis.) took possession along the right-wing half-wall. Kison made her way out into the high slot and then sent a pass to Prentiss in the middle of the left circle. Sacred Heart sophomore goaltender Frankie Sanchez got a piece of the senior's shot, but could not keep it out of the net, as Prentiss cashed in her third goal of the year.

The Ravens pushed the lead to 3-1 with a highlight-reel goal at 14:24 of the second stanza. From deep in her own end, senior defenseman Delaney Guimont (Bedford, N.H.) corralled a loose puck and slung it out into the neutral zone, where it ate up Sacred Heart junior defenseman Marissa Letizio. Junior forward Nicole Amato (Billerica, Mass.) pounced on the misplay and sprung herself in alone against Sanchez. Amato turned things into a Dangle Fest at the top of the crease, as she sent Sanchez sprawling to the left before pulling the puck back to the right and shuffling a backhand into the vacated net for her fifth goal of the season.

The celebration was short-lived, as Sacred Heart closed the gap to 3-2 just 22 seconds later, at 14:46. Solak sent freshman forward Cassandra Nevers into the offensive end with a head of steam down the right-wing side. The defense was able to force Nevers wide on the right, and she decided to just throw the puck towards the goal from deep in the corner. She would catch a lucky break, as the puck deflected off the skate of Franklin Pierce sophomore goaltender Emme Ostrander (Westborough, Mass.) and wound up in the net for Nevers' first collegiate goal.

Franklin Pierce put the game away with a pair of third-period insurance tallies while holding Sacred Heart to just three shots in the final frame. First, Kison gained possession in the neutral zone and sprung freshman forward Katelyn Brightbill (Annville, Pa.) the other way, leading a 2-on-1 from the left-wing side. Below the faceoff dot, Brightbill centered for Massaro, who had the one-time finish for her second goal of the season at 12:17.

Later, Prentiss provided the icing on the cake with a 5-on-3 power-play goal at 17:04. After a scramble out front, the puck kicked away into the right-wing corner and caromed up the right-wing boards. Prentiss gained possession at the half-boards and sent a pass up high for Caban. Caban returned the puck to Prentiss high in the right-wing circle. Prentiss held as she made her way into the high slot and then snapped a shot to the top-left corner to create the 5-2 final. It was Prentiss' first multi-goal game of the season, and the third of her career.

Ostrander (5-2-0) finished with 20 saves against 22 shots to pick up the win for Franklin Pierce. Sanchez (3-8-0) made just 29 saves against 34 shots and suffered the loss for Sacred Heart.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (https://www.fpuravens.com). 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). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce ice hockey apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' brand new online store (https://www.shopfpuravens.com).