Sweeney, Colella each score twice

WINCHENDON, Mass. (December 4, 2010) – Sophomore forward Roscoe Sweeney (Falmouth, Mass.) and freshman forward Bryan Colella (Medfield, Mass.) both scored two goals and added an assist to finish with three points each on Saturday night as the Franklin Pierce University ice hockey team posted a 7-4 victory over Assumption in Northeast-10 Conference play at The Winchendon School Ice Arena. Junior forward Pat O'Kane had a goal and an assist for Assumption in the loss.

With the victory, Franklin Pierce improves to 3-7-0 (2-1-0 Northeast-10), while Assumption falls to 5-5-0 (2-2-0 Northeast-10).

After the first 12 minutes went without a goal, the teams combined for three goals in a span of 4:27 late in the first period. Assumption struck first, as senior forward Pat Fitzgibbons buried a rebound in the high slot for his fourth goal of the season after O'Kane's shot from the right point was turned aside.

Franklin Pierce would answer and jump to a 2-1 lead with a pair of power-play goals 69 seconds apart. Sweeney netted the first in a 5-on-3 situation when he deflected home his second of the season by getting a piece of a shot from the right point by sophomore defenseman Tyler Cornele (Cape Coral, Fla.). Shortly thereafter, junior forward Pat Shortt (New Haven, Conn.) swung a pass across the ice that allowed Colella to finish off his team-leading fifth goal of the season with a one-timer from the bottom of the left circle. Sweeney added an assist on the play as well.

After the teams broke for the first intermission, Assumption quickly knotted the game at 2-2 just 93 seconds into the second period. With the Greyhounds still on the power play shortly after the expiration of a 5-on-3 opportunity, O'Kane found himself all alone in the slot. He put away his seventh of the campaign off a feed from Fitzgibbons, while junior forward Taylor Larsen picked up an assist as well.

Just over four minutes later, Franklin Pierce reclaimed the lead on the second of the season for sophomore forward Adam Dallaire (Waltham, Mass.), who put home a one-timer from the left circle off a feed from up top by sophomore defenseman Brendan McCarron (Andover, Mass.).

Assumption picked up its second power-play goal of the stanza at the 12:06 mark to tie the game at 3-3 heading for the third. Junior defenseman Kevin Glanzman took the puck from Larsen at the right point and unleashed a rocket of a shot which found the near post and caromed into the net.

After the first seven minutes of the final period went scoreless, Colella briefly gave the Ravens the lead at the 7:52 mark, when he buried a shot from the slot off a pass from sophomore defenseman Wes Russell (Marlborough, Mass.). However, just 59 seconds later, sophomore forward Cam Maillet snapped home an unassisted, shorthanded tally for Assumption to tie the game at 4-4.

From there, it would be all Franklin Pierce. With Larsen in the box for slashing, Cornele netted the game-winner by putting home his third of the season from the top of the right circle on the power play. The game remained tight until the Ravens found themselves with a 2-on-1 down low in the offensive end in the final two minutes. Sweeney put away a pass from Colella at 18:14 to make it a 6-4 lead for the Ravens.

Shortt created the 7-4 final with a shorthanded, empty-net goal with one minute to play in the game.

Freshman goaltender Dave O'Brien (Groton, Mass.) made 36 saves to pick up the win (3-2-0) in front of the Franklin Pierce net. Freshman Bobby Bowden made 33 saves and took the loss (1-4-0) between the pipes for Assumption.

Each team attempted 40 shots on goal in the game, and Franklin Pierce did damage to the tune of 3-for-8 on the power play. Assumption finished 2-for-10 with the man-advantage.

The Ravens return to the ice on Wednesday, Dec. 8, when they remain home to host Nichols in a non-conference contest. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at The Winchendon School Ice Arena.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). 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).