WINCHENDON, Mass. (February 12, 2022) -- A three-goal third period turned a late 1-0 lead into a comfortable, 4-1 victory for the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team at home on Saturday afternoon against Post. The Ravens were dominant throughout at the Jason Ritchie Ice Arena, to the tune of a 64-14 advantage in shots on goal, but had some trouble finishing before the third period rolled around, as Post sophomore goaltender Lexi Levy finished with 60 saves. Junior Becca Kniss (Eden Prairie, Minn.) scored twice for Franklin Pierce in the New England Women's Hockey Alliance victory.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 16-8-1 (12-3-0 NEWHA) and has won eight in a row, which establishes a new program record. With the loss, Post falls to 5-22-0 (2-14-0 NEWHA). Franklin Pierce swept the five-game season series between the two, including all four NEWHA meetings, by a combined scoring margin of 29-1.

The game was also the team's annual fundraising game, as the Ravens identify a cause every year to raise money for, via sales of t-shirts and special edition jerseys. This year, the program was raising funds for Operation Delta Dog, a New England non-profit which focuses on rescuing homeless dogs and training them to be service animals for veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, and similar challenges. Following the first period, head coach David Stockdale presented Operation Delta Dog with a check for nearly $4000, representing the money raised thus far.

Stockdale made the presentation with a 1-0 lead, after Kniss opened the scoring at the 19:10 mark of the opening frame. Sophomore Brooke Remington (Scandia, Minn.) gained the zone, and junior Cassidy Jones (Stillwater, Minn.) eventually ended up with the puck in the left-wing corner. Jones provided the setup in the left circle for Kniss, who popped her ninth of the season home from there.

The game went without further scoring until the Ravens chalked up a pair of insurance markers in the first seven minutes of the third period. At 4:15, Remington partially fanned on what appeared to be a shot attempt from the slot, but was able to push the puck ahead to freshman Mikayla Kelley (Eagan, Minn.), who knocked home her fourth of the year at the right post. On a 5-on-3 advantage at 6:20, Kniss posted her second multiple-goal game in the last three contests, as she put away a shot from the right circle, off of assists from graduate student Marissa Massaro (Brockton, Mass.) and junior Stefanie Caban (Fitchburg, Mass.).

Post got one back, with a power-play tally of its own, at 7:50. Junior Sadie Storm forced a turnover on the right wing and the puck wound up down low with sophomore Jade Giesbrecht. Giesbrecht's centering feed hit a defensive skate, but ricocheted out into the high slot for junior Catherine Proulx. Proulx put a shot through traffic from there, and tallied her third goal of the year, as it appeared sophomore goaltender Suzette Faucher (Middleton, Wis.) did not see the puck until it was far too late.

Franklin Pierce created the 4-1 final at 10:44. Freshman Julia Stevens (Minneapolis, Minn.) took a shot from the middle of the blue line, which was deflected home from the hash marks by fellow freshman Cailey McLaughlin (McLean, Va.), who scored for the third straight game.

Faucher (10-2-1) finished with 13 saves against 14 shots to pick up the win for Franklin Pierce. Levy (1-4-0) piled up 60 saves against 64 shots in a losing effort in the Post crease.

The Ravens are headed on the road for a midweek makeup game on Tuesday, as they face-off with NEWHA rival Saint Anselm. Puck drop is set for 3 p.m. at Sullivan Arena in Manchester, N.H.