WINCHENDON, Mass. (January 5, 2020) – The shots were aplenty on Sunday night for the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team, but the goals were much tougher to come by at the Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. The Ravens posted a 45-22 advantage in shots on goal and ran up a 71-38 edge in shot attempts, but also looked sloppy in the defensive end at times, as they came up on the short end of a 5-3 decision against Johnson & Wales (R.I.) in non-conference action.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 8-5-1 and has lost three in a row, while Johnson & Wales improves to 3-8-0.

A neutral-zone turnover led to the opening score at the 8:27 mark, as JWU freshman forward Kodi Legassie took control and came in all alone on a breakaway. He deked his way to the right post, but was stymied by a sprawling stick save by Franklin Pierce sophomore goaltender Kyle Martin (Westford, Mass.). However, with the abrupt direction change thanks to the turnover, the Ravens defense was late getting back, which allowed Legassie time to corral the rebound and flip it over the top of the prone Martin for the former's fourth goal of the season.

The teams traded power-play goals later in the frame, as JWU took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. Franklin Pierce evened things at 1-1 at 13:26, after a cross-slot pass from senior forward James Morrissey (West Haven, Conn.) set up sophomore forward Chris Stevenson (Arvada, Colo.) at the bottom of the right-wing circle. Stevenson's one-time attempt from there deflected off of senior forward Alex Lester (Methuen, Mass.) at the top of the crease and wound up in the net for the latter's ninth goal of the campaign.

JWU struck on its own man-advantage at 18:47 to reclaim the lead. Sophomore forward Jake Glod had the original shot on the play, from the right side, which was blocked by the defense. Senior forward Connor Bechtel chased down the loose puck in the right-wing corner and centered for junior forward Anthony Scarcella, who had the finish on his second of the season at the top of the crease.

The two sides traded goals early in the second to leave JWU with a 3-2 lead. Franklin Pierce struck at 1:48, as graduate student forward Sam Gagnon (Montreal, Quebec) knocked home a rebound at the right post for his second of the year, with senior forward Cameron Shepardson (Albany, N.Y.) picking up the lone assist. Just 68 seconds later, at 2:56, sophomore forward Logan Orem stuffed home a rebound at the left post for his second of the season, while senior forward Matt Bernot and sophomore forward Austin Withycombe tacked on the helpers.

Franklin Pierce had a golden opportunity to level the score at 10:16, as Morrissey was awarded a penalty shot after being slashed while on a breakaway. Morrissey went to his right on the penalty-shot attempt, but his shot was turned aside by JWU junior goaltender Mike Rockwell.

JWU picked up an important insurance marker just 75 seconds into the third period to make it a 4-2 game. Sophomore defenseman Matt Gulack and Withycombe combined to spring Bernot on a breakaway. Bernot went to his left and flipped a backhand past Martin for his fifth of the season.

A late power-play goal allowed Franklin Pierce to close the gap to 4-3 at 15:27. Morrissey deflected the puck into the offensive end from the blue line and sophomore forward Ryan Gorbett (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) chased it down deep on the right side. Gorbett dropped the puck for Stevenson at the bottom of the right circle. Stevenson would finish the job himself this time, as he snapped home his sixth of the year.

JWU added an empty-net tally with just 1.8 seconds remaining to create the 5-3 final. Junior forward Graham Day beat out a potential icing call and centered the puck for junior forward Max Dorfman, for the latter's second of the year.

Martin (4-2-0) finished with 17 saves against 21 shots in defeat for Franklin Pierce. Rockwell (3-6-0) piled up 42 saves against 45 shots to pick up the victory for Johnson & Wales.

The Ravens return to the ice on Friday, Jan. 10, when they remain home to host Western New England in a non-conference contest. Opening faceoff is set for 1 p.m. at the Jason Ritchie Ice Arena.

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).