Four Find Net as Men’s Ice Hockey Opens 2019 with 4-2 win at Western New England

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 4, 2019) – In a tightly-checked game which featured just 44 combined shots, as well as 40 penalty minutes, the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team exited the semester break in the win column on the road on Friday afternoon. Four different players found the net for the Ravens, who picked up a 4-2 win over Western New England in non-conference play at Olympia Ice Center.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 6-6-0, while Western New England falls to 3-11-0.

Franklin Pierce struck for the first-period's only goal on Friday, which was one of the team's two power-play tallies on the afternoon. Senior forward Nate Indelicato (Pembroke, Mass.) notched his second goal of the season at the 10:33 mark, while freshman defenseman David Cambria (West Bridgewater, Mass.) and sophomore forward Justin Blanchette (Monroe, Conn.) added the assists. For Cambria, the helper marked his first collegiate point.

The goals came early and often in the second stanza, as each team scored twice in the opening 11:01. First, Western New England drew level at the 4:50 mark, courtesy of the second of the campaign from senior forward Chris Maione, who picked up assists from freshman forward Connor Geshan and sophomore defenseman John O'Brien. The tie would last just 34 seconds, as Franklin Pierce reclaimed the lead at 5:24, when freshman forward Chris Stevenson (Arvada, Colo.) put home his second of the season, off of assists from freshman forward Ryan Gorbett (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) and freshman forward Sean Crowley (Sandown, N.H.).

The Ravens pushed the lead out to 3-1 at the 10:51 mark, when sophomore defenseman Paul Antkowiak (Salem, N.H.) notched his first of the year, while Blanchette and junior forward Matthew Toombs (Pleasanton, Calif.) provided the assists. The Golden Bears needed just 10 seconds to answer, as Maione put home his second goal of the period at 11:01, with assists credited to freshman forwards Anthony Frati and Colton Mcallister.

Franklin Pierce would kill off a five-minute major penalty which spanned the end of the second and the start of the third, before notching the third period's only goal. The important insurance tally came on the power play at 8:56, and was the third of the season for Toombs, off of assists from Gorbett junior defenseman Mark Indelicato (Pembroke, Mass.). The Ravens later came up empty on a five-minute power-play of their own, but the missed opportunity would be moot, as there was no further scoring and Franklin Pierce went on to the 4-2 win.

Sophomore goaltender Ian Wallace (West Islip, N.Y.) made 23 saves against 25 shots to pick up the win (5-5-0) in front of the Franklin Pierce net. At the other end of the ice, it was 15 saves against 19 shots for junior netminder Kyle Carducci (2-2-0) in a losing effort for Western New England.

The Ravens return to the ice on Tuesday, Jan. 8, when they return home to host Westfield State in a non-conference contest. Opening faceoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena in Winchendon, Mass. 

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 hockey apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (https://www.fpuravens.com/store).