Women’s Ice Hockey Stymied at Manhattanville, 2-1

RYE, N.Y. (January 28, 2017) – A shorthanded goal with just 5:26 to play was the difference on Saturday afternoon, as the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team struggled to generate scoring chances in a 2-1 road loss at Manhattanville in New England Hockey Conference play. Sophomore forward Katherine Reilly scored the game-winning goal for the Valiants, breaking a 1-1 tie late at Playland Ice Casino.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 12-5-1 (8-4-0 NEHC), while Manhattanville improves to 11-6-1 (9-2-0 NEHC).

Franklin Pierce struggled all afternoon to put pucks on net, as Manhattanville finished with a 33-21 edge in shots on goal. The margin was especially prevalent in the first period, when the Ravens were outshot 17-3. Despite the large edge, Manhattanville would strike just once in the period, but it would be the frame's only goal, just 57 seconds into the proceedings. Junior forward Melissa Stys put home her sixth goal of the season, with assists going to sophomore forward Morgan Wilm and senior defenseman Lindsay Diot.

Franklin Pierce evened the score at 1-1 with a power-play marker at the 4:51 mark of the second stanza. Senior forward Marisa Ketterman (Palmer, Alaska) picked up her 10th goal of the season -- her 93rd career point -- while junior forward Alex Brolsma (Bloomington, Minn.) and freshman defenseman Delaney Guimont (Bedford, N.H.) provided the assists.

The game would go without another goal until the final six minutes. With 5:45 to play, Franklin Pierce earned a late power play, as Manhattanville junior forward Cassandra Kent was sent to the penalty box for tripping. The Ravens took their timeout in conjunction with the penalty call, in hopes of drawing up the game-winning goal. Instead, it would be the Valiants who struck, just 19 seconds into the penalty kill, with a shorthanded goal at 14:34. It was Reilly's sixth score of the year, with assists going to freshman defenseman Zoey Pellowitz and freshman forward Amanda Sabia.

Senior goaltender Shannon O'Neil (Tewksbury, Mass.) finished with 31 saves against 33 shots and suffered the loss (10-4-1) in net for Franklin Pierce. Sophomore netminder Rose Pijaca (6-1-1) made 20 stops against 21 shots to pick up the win for Manhattanville at the other end of the ice.

The Ravens return to the ice on Friday, Feb. 3, when they travel to UMass Boston for an NEHC contest. Opening faceoff is set for 4 p.m. at Edward T. Barry Ice Rink in Boston.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). 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 women's ice hockey apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).