WINCHENDON, Mass. (February 14, 2010) -- A one-goal lead was not enough for the Franklin Pierce University men's hockey team in the third period on Friday night at the Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. Though the Ravens led 3-2 after two against the Saint Anselm Hawks, a goal 6:20 into the period would tie it. Later, senior forward Trey Aiello's hat-trick goal with 33 seconds left in regulation would stand as the winner, as Saint Anselm came back to win 4-3 in the opener of a pivotal Northeast-10 Conference weekend series. Senior forward Alex Lester (Methuen, Mass.) had a goal and an assist in defeat to become the first player in program history to tally 100 career points. The assist was the 56^th of his career, setting a new program record.

With the win, Saint Anselm improves to 12-11-2 (7-6-2 NE10). Franklin Pierce falls to 13-10-4 (6-6-3 NE10). The win vaulted the Hawks over the Ravens in the conference standings, however only one point separates the two teams heading into Saturday's matchup. Puck drop in the finale of the three-game season series is set for 5 p.m. at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. The two teams have split their two meetings thus far.

Aiello would start the scoring late in the first period. Senior forward Sean Verrier and freshman defenseman John Wilson picked the lone assists on the play, as Aiello finished his sixth of the season on a rebound to cap a 3-on-2 rush and give the Hawks the lead. A power-play opportunity would give the Ravens a chance to answer back and they would. Freshman forward Jason Ladzinski (Norcross, Ga.) would bury the equalizer, with sophomore defenseman Stephen Jacobs (Hingham, Mass.) and sophomore forward Anthony Nikolopoulos (Burlington, Mass.) picking up the assists. Ladzinski's sixth, on a nifty redirect in front after Jacobs sent the puck towards the net, tied the game at 1-1 heading into the first intermission

The Hawks would strike early into the second, just 1:26 in, as Aiello banged home his second goal of the game with a laser of a shot from the slot. Verrier provided the feed from the right-wing corner. The Ravens managed only four shots on goal in the first period and were forced to pick up the offense through the middle stanza. It would be the top line, which features the team's three leading scorers, which cashed in twice in the frame to stake Franklin Pierce to a 3-2 lead.

First, sophomore forward Chris Stevenson (Arvada, Colo.) took a feed from Lester and tore off down the right wing in a 4-on-4 situation. Stevenson ultimately snuck a backhand shot home on the far side, past Saint Anselm sophomore netminder Michal Soustal. Stevenson's 16^th of the season tied things up 10:41 into the period. For Lester, it was the 56^th assist of his career, establishing a new program record. Later in the second, the Ravens' captain would hit another milestone while giving the Ravens the lead.

Jacobs would pick up his second assist of the night, as he zipped a pass across the zone from the right point to Lester, who crashed the left post and tipped a shot past Soustal for his 17^th of the season. The goal ran Lester's program-record career point total to 100 (44-56-100). He was the first player in program history to reach 100 career points, and one of two Ravens hockey players on the day to reach the century mark, as Nicole Amato did so as well, in the women's team's win at Post.

Finding themselves trailing in the third period of a big game, the Hawks continued to fire pucks towards Ian Wallace, and each team notched 12 shots in the final frame. The Ravens' goaltender was eventually beaten on a wicked shot from the Hawks' leading goal scorer, senior forward Mike Ferraro. Ferraro fired a wrist shot past Wallace from the left circle for his team leading 12^th goal of the season to tie the game at three at the 13:40 mark.

It seemed as if this game would be destined for overtime, but Aiello had other plans. The senior forward gained the Ravens line and unleashed a laser of a shot, high over the left hand of Wallace. Aiello's ripper capped off his hat trick and would secure a crucial win for the Hawks.

Soustal (5-4-0) stopped 23 of 26 shots to pick up the win. Wallace (7-6-3) was busier throughout the contest and turned aside 29 of 33 shots, but was saddled with the loss.

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).