SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (January 18, 2020) -- Overtime has become a recent trend for the Franklin Pierce University men's hockey team. For the third consecutive game, the Ravens would find themselves playing past 60 minutes, and were able to salvage a point with a 2-2 tie against the Purple Knights of Saint Michael's College on Saturday afternoon at Cairns Arena.

With the tie in the Northeast-10 Conference affair, the Ravens go to 10-6-2 (4-2-1 NE10), and the Purple Knights now sit at 9-6-2 (5-3-1 NE10). The two teams split the three-game season series, 1-1-1.

It was not as goal-filled as Friday night's 6-5 barn burner, but it did not take long into the proceedings for a goal to be scored on Saturday. Just 18 seconds into the game, freshman forward Matt Schreiner was able to finish off a pass from sophomore forward Matt Egan, as he buried a shot past Ravens' junior netminder Ian Wallace (West Islip, N.Y.) for the game's opening tally.

The fast start by the Purple Knights was coupled by a slow start from the Ravens, who were held in the game early by Wallace. Perhaps his biggest save of the whole game came with one minute left in the first. With his team trailing by a goal, the Purple Knights were awarded a penalty shot. Junior defenseman Sel Narby, who Wallace had stopped initially, was interfered with from behind and now had a chance with the penalty shot. Wallace stayed with his man and shut down the backhand attempt at the left post. The big save in a key moment kept the deficit at one.

The Ravens would make the save count. On a late power-play chance, senior winger Cameron Shepardson (Albany, N.Y.) fired a shot that was stopped by Saint Michael's freshman goaltender Alec Lindberg. The rebound got away from the Purple Knights' netminder and came onto the stick of sophomore forward Chris Stevenson (Arvada, Colo.), who made no mistake. The sophomore was open on the right side and put it past Lindberg for his eighth goal of the season. The Ravens tied the game up at 1-1, just 58 seconds after Wallace's big stop on Narby.

Things would balance out in the second period for the Ravens, who followed up their power-play goal in the first with a penalty kill to start the second. The Ravens generated more chances and outshot the Purple Knights 10-7 for the period. The only blemish would be a major one. While on the power play, the Ravens lost the puck, leading to a rush for the Purple Knights. Freshman forward Jeremy Routh, fresh off a three-point outing on Friday, made a nifty move over the Ravens' line before sliding a pass through to Schreiner. The latter made no mistake with it, as he buried his second of the game, this one shorthanded, and reestablished the lead for Saint Michael's.

The Ravens would be outshot 13-9 in the third, but fortunately their goalie was up to the task and kept the team within striking distance. Wallace made five saves in the opening 62 seconds of the third and would turn aside all 13 shots he faced in the period. The Ravens saved their best push for the final minute. With a five-on-three power-play opportunity, and Wallace off for an extra attacker, Franklin Pierce pushed for the tying goal.

It would be the reigning NE10 Player of the Year, senior forward Alex Lester (Methuen, Mass.) who got the game level. The Ravens' captain walked into the right circle and snapped a shot in the left corner past Lindberg. It was a timely strike, as Lester's Conference-leading 11^th of the season tied things up at 2-2 with 26 seconds remaining in regulation.

The Ravens would have the only two shots of the overtime period, and one of them nearly found the back of the net. On the power play, the puck found senior forward James Morrissey (West Haven, Conn.), who uncorked a one-timer aimed for the top left corner. Lindberg was able to track it and block it, making his biggest save of the game to preserve the tie.

Wallace (5-3-1) stopped 30 of 32 shots and was a key factor in the Ravens securing a point in the standings with the tie. His counterpart Lindberg (3-1-1) was equally important, as he stopped 27 of 29 shots at the other end.

The Ravens remain on the road and are back in action on Tuesday, Jan. 21, when they travel to Assumption College. Puck drop in Worcester, Mass., is set for 6 p.m.

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).