WINCHENDON, Mass. (November 5, 2022) --After four periods, plus an overtime session, of goalless hockey to open the weekend at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena, the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team finally broke through in the second period on Saturday afternoon against Saint Michael's. Junior Jenna Ruiz (Webster, Wis.) struck for the game-winner at 13:29 of the middle frame, and graduate student Lindsey Dumond (Hampton, N.H.) added an insurance marker on a third-period power play, as the Ravens chalked up a 2-0 win in the New England Women's Hockey Alliance contest.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 3-5-1 (2-1-1 NEWHA), while Saint Michael's falls to 1-5-1 (1-3-1 NEWHA). Franklin Pierce will make the return trip to Saint Michael's for a pair of games on the other side of the winter break, on Jan. 20-21.

After the two teams played 98:28 of scoreless hockey to open their weekend series, Franklin Pierce struck at the 13:29 mark of the second period on Saturday, with the only goal it would need. Along the right-wing half-wall, freshman Avery Farrell (Otsego, Minn.) sent the puck up to the right point for senior Stefanie Caban (Fitchburg, Mass.), who narrowly held the blue line. Caban quickly fed into the high slot for Ruiz, who glided towards the hash marks and then picked the top-left corner for her second of the season.

A power-play marker at 15:18 of the third period provided the Ravens some insurance, and was the only other goal of the game. On a left-wing faceoff in the neutral zone, sophomore Mikayla Kelley (Eagan, Minn.) won the puck forward. Senior Cailey McLaughlin (McLean, Va.) swooped in from the side boards, snagged the puck, gained the zone and made her way to the top of the right-wing circle. As she did so, Dumond cut straight through the attack zone to the net, which put her in prime position to deflect home her first goal as a Raven after McLaughlin sent the puck towards the net.

Franklin Pierce dominated possession and the run of play throughout, to the tune of a 51-17 advantage in shots on goal, including 19-6 out of the gates in the first period as the Ravens had the first 12 shots of the game.

Freshman Jill Hertl (Highland Park, Ill.) stopped all 17 shots on her goal to pick up the win (2-1-1) and post her second consecutive shutout. Meanwhile, junior Carissa Mudrak (1-3-1) piled up 49 saves against 51 shots -- already her fourth 40-save outing of the year -- in the Saint Michael's crease.

The Ravens have a home-and-home NEWHA series with intrastate rival Saint Anselm on the calendar for next weekend, Nov. 11-12. Game time is set for 4 p.m. on Friday at Franklin Pierce, and 2 p.m. on Saturday at Saint Anselm.