WINCHENDON, Mass. (November 11, 2022) -- With a lead through two periods on its home ice, the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team has been nearly unbeatable throughout its history. In fact, of 77 previous second-intermission leads at the Jason Ritchie Ice Arena, the Ravens had converted 76 of them into victories. It was not to be on Friday night though, as visiting Saint Anselm used a pair of goals in the opening four minutes of the third period to turn the tide. The Hawks erased a 2-1 deficit and went on to a 5-2 victory in New England Women's Hockey Alliance action.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 3-6-1 (2-2-1 NEWHA), while Saint Anselm improves to 7-7-1 (7-2-1 NEWHA). The two teams will wrap up their weekend home-and-home on Saturday, with a 2 p.m. puck drop at Saint Anselm.

Trailing 2-1 through 40 minutes, Saint Anselm wasted no time turning the tables in the third period. The Hawks leveled things at 2-2 just 31 seconds into the final frame, when junior Natalie Tulchinsky jammed home a rebound at the left post for her ninth goal of the season. Senior Gabrielle Huson had the original shot from the right point on the play.

The Hawks took the lead less than three minutes later, at 3:14. A failed clear attempt wound up on the stick of sophomore Tyra Turner, drifting from the slot into the right-wing faceoff circle. Turner sent the puck back against the grain, and found graduate student Kelly Golini for a deflection in front of the left post. The eventual game-winner was Golini's second of the game and sixth of the campaign.

Saint Anselm added empty-net tallies from Tulchinsky and junior Maddy McCaffery in the final two minutes to round out the four-goal third and create the 5-2 final.

It was an unlikely outcome after Franklin Pierce had headed to the locker room with a 2-1 lead at the end of the second period. The Ravens had converted their previous 49 second-intermission leads at home, and were 76-1-0 all-time when leading through two in Winchendon. The only other previous blemish? Against the rival Hawks as well, naturally. On Jan. 26, 2016 (game story), Franklin Pierce could not hold a 2-0 lead, as Saint Anselm scored three times in the third and eventually posted a 4-3, overtime victory. Friday night marked the first time the Ravens suffered a regulation defeat after leading through two on their home ice.

Earlier in the day, the first period went scoreless, but the power-play units came alive in the second frame. Saint Anselm opened the scoring on the advantage at 4:55. On the right side, Tulchinsky sent the puck down low for Turner, who carried right to left behind the goal. She then fed Golini out front for the one-time finish.

Franklin Pierce answered in a 5-on-3 situation at 6:56. Freshman Avery Farrell (Otsego, Minn.) got the puck to fellow freshman Memphis Mertens (Rochester, Minn.) in the right circle, and the latter found a passing lane across the slot. Mertens hit junior Jenna Ruiz (Webster, Wis.) in the left circle, and the latter went top shelf for her third of the year.

The Ravens took the lead into the third period courtesy of another power-play marker, at 18:53. Sophomores Mikayla Kelley (Eagan, Minn.) and Cailey McLaughlin (McLean, Va.) combined to work the puck to the front of the net for junior Emilie Prive (Morrisville, Vt.). Prive's initial shot was stopped, but she stuffed home her own rebound at the left post for her first goal of the season.

Freshman Jill Hertl (Highland Park, Ill.) finished with 23 saves against 26 shots and suffered the loss (2-2-1) in the Franklin Pierce crease. Senior Allie Kelley (7-7-1) stopped 28 of 30 shots at the other end to pick up the win for Saint Anselm.