CANTON, Mass. (January 4, 2020) – Sophomore forward Ryan Gorbett (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) scored a pair of second-period goals, but it would be the only offense for the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team at the Canton Ice House on Saturday afternoon. The Ravens opened the second half of the season on the road, where they suffered a 5-2 loss at the hands of Curry. The home-standing Colonels got a pair of goals from sophomore forward Alex Ochterbeck to lead the way to the non-conference victory.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 8-4-1, while Curry improves to 9-3-2.

It was an ominous start for the Ravens, who were whistled for a pair of penalties concurrently just 1:44 into the contest, setting up a full two minutes of 5-on-3 advantage for Curry. The Colonels needed just two of the possible 120 seconds to convert though, as they cashed in immediately off the ensuing faceoff. Sophomore forward Mic Curran cleanly won the left-wing draw back and to his right for junior forward Viktor Jansson, who immediately shuttled it over to Ochterbeck in the right-wing circle. Ochterbeck's quick one-time shot did not miss from there, as his seventh goal of the season opened the scoring just 1:46 into the proceedings.

The game went without another goal until both sides notched two goals apiece in the second period. The whole line got in on the action again for the Colonels, just 21 seconds into the stanza, as Ochterbeck notched his second of the afternoon. After Franklin Pierce failed to clear its own end, the puck wound up high in the left circle with Curran, who slipped a pass into the middle for Jansson. Jansson surveyed his options, drew both defenders and laid the puck off to his right for Ochterbeck, who once again buried a one-time shot from the right circle.

Franklin Pierce battled back with goals from Gorbett at 2:11 and 9:50 to level the game at 2-2. On the first, senior defenseman Jonathan Busolin (Goose Creek, S.C.) took the initial shot from the right point, which was knocked down out front before it got to the net. Freshman forward Conor Foley (Nahant, Mass.) put the loose puck on net from edge of the right circle, but Curry senior goaltender Justin Ketola flashed the right pad to make the save. However, Ketola kicked the rebound directly to Gorbett outside the crease on the left side, and the latter immediately snapped his fourth of the season into the net.

Less than eight minutes later, Foley had a hand in the setup again, as his poke check forced a turnover in the left-wing circle by deflecting the puck to freshman forward Jason Ladzinski (Norcross, Ga.). Ladzinski's first shot from the middle of the left circle rang the left post, and his follow up attempt from the same spot was stopped by Ketola. Once again, Gorbett was on the scene for the rebound, this time at the top of the crease, as he chalked up his first career multiple-goal game.

Curry would take the lead for good just over two minutes later, at the 11:58 mark, in a 4-on-4 situation. As with the opening goal, the game-winner came off a faceoff play, this time on the right-wing side. Junior forward Eetu Selanne won the draw back and to the right for junior defenseman Tyler Lindstrom, who quickly fired a pass over to the high slot for freshman defenseman Nicholas Favaro. Favaro teed up a booming one-timer from there and blasted home his second goal of the campaign.

Curry took control statistically in the third period, as the Colonels posted a 17-10 advantage in shots over the final 20 minutes. Still, it was a one-goal game for much of the frame, until Curry finally collected the all-important insurance marker at the 15:53 mark. Junior forward Tristan Morin tracked down a loose puck behind the net and set it into the left corner for senior forward Anthony Trujillo, who worked it to the left point for junior defenseman Joseph Thielen. Thielen sent a shot toward the goal from there, and it was deflected out front by Morin, who tallied his second of the year.

The Colonels added an empty-net goal at 19:47 to create the 5-2 final. Curran picked up his seventh goal of the season to cap his three-point outing (1-2-3), while Jansson picked up his third assist of the day.

Junior goaltender Ian Wallace (West Islip, N.Y.) faced 40 shots and finished with 36 saves while suffering the loss (3-3-0) in the Franklin Pierce crease. Ketola (7-3-1) stopped 27 of 29 shots at the other end to pick up the win for Curry.

The Ravens are right back at it on Sunday, Jan. 5, when they return home to host Johnson & Wales in a non-conference contest. Opening faceoff is set for 7 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 ice hockey apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' brand new online store (https://www.shopfpuravens.com).