Quick Start Not Enough for Men’s Ice Hockey in 5-3 Loss to Assumption

WINCHENDON, Mass. (January 25, 2019) – The Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team got started in a hurry on home ice on Friday night, with two goals in the first 39 seconds of its Northeast-10 Conference matchup with Assumption. Unfortunately for the Ravens, they would generate only 15 shots the rest of the way and the visiting Greyhounds would rally for a 5-3 win at the Jason Ritchie Ice Arena.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 8-10-1 (3-5-1 NE10), while Assumption improves to 12-5-1 (5-4-1 NE10). The two teams will meet again on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Jason Ritchie Ice Arena to wrap up the season series.

Franklin Pierce came charging hard out of the gate on Friday, with the fastest two goals to open a game in program history. Freshman forward Sean Crowley (Sandown, N.H.) got things started just 18 seconds into the proceedings, as he capped a rush up the left-wing side of the ice by snapping home his fourth goal of the season from the middle of the left circle. Freshman defenseman David Cambria (West Bridgewater, Mass.) and freshman forward Ryan Gorbett (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) provided the assists on the play. It was the third-fastest goal to open a game in school history.

The Ravens followed up with their second tally just 21 seconds later. Freshman forward Anthony Nikolopoulos (Burlington, Mass.) had the finish on the backhand from the edge of the left circle amid a scramble in the slot. Sophomore forward Christian Bastianelli (Newton, Mass.) and senior defenseman Jack Williams (Suffield, Conn.) would tack on the assists on Nikolopoulos' sixth of the campaign, at the 39-second mark.

However, Assumption would forge back to tie the game before the curtain had dropped on the first period. The Greyhounds cut the deficit in half at 5:12, when freshman forward Robert Holyoke banged home a rebound at the right post for his eighth goal of the year. Senior forward Matt Damelio took the initial shot on the play from the left circle, while freshman defenseman Jared Bernis added an assist as well.

The Greyhounds then knotted things with a power-play marker at 15:38. Junior defenseman Robert Roche took a shot from the top of the left circle, which wound its way through traffic and into the net for his fifth goal of the season. Assists were credited to freshman forwards Michael Zampanti and Dante Maribito.

Assumption took the lead for good at the 8:55 mark of the second period, just seconds after Franklin Pierce had killed off a major penalty. Senior forward Peter McDonagh had the finish right out in front for his third of the campaign, with Zampanti and sophomore forward John Chamberlain tacking on the helpers.

The eventual game-winner was a shorthanded backbreaker at the 7:58 mark of the third period. Junior forward Brendan Philippon led a 2-on-1 into the offensive end on the left side and centered for senior defenseman Dante Tomassini, as the latter jumped into the rush. Tomassini deked his way to the left post and put a backhand shot up high for his sixth of the year. Senior defenseman Kieran Peters added an assist as well.

Franklin Pierce closed the gap back to 4-3 with a power-play marker at 14:02. Williams took the initial shot on the play from the right point. It was tipped en route by senior forward Nate Indelicato (Pembroke, Mass.), who tallied his fifth goal of the season, while junior forward Alex Lester (Methuen, Mass.) added the other assist.

Assumption wrapped things up with an empty-net tally at 19:02. Holyoke made it a two-goal night, as he dumped the puck into the yawning cage from the left-wing side of the neutral zone, off of an assist from freshman forward Devan Sheth.

Sophomore goaltender Ian Wallace (West Islip, N.Y.) finished with 33 saves against 37 shots and suffered the loss in net for Franklin Pierce. Junior netminder David Zulauf (10-4-1) made just 14 saves against 17 shots at the other end, but picked up the win in the crease for Assumption. 

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).