Women’s Ice Hockey Outlasts Saint Michael’s, 4-3

WINCHENDON, Mass. (November 9, 2018) – The Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team piled up 37 shots on goal on Friday night at the Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. However, the team also surrendered three goals on 26 shots, which kept the game close late and required the Ravens to grind out a 4-3 win over visiting Saint Michael's in New England Women's Hockey Alliance play. Sophomore forward Nicole Amato (Billerica, Mass.) had the game-winning goal in the third period, after dishing out an assist earlier in the night.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 5-2-0 (3-2-0 NEWHA), while Saint Michael's falls to 2-3-0 (1-2-0 NEWHA). The two teams will wrap up their two-game weekend series on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena.

Franklin Pierce opened the scoring after the midpoint of the first period on Friday night. Sophomore forward Marissa Massaro (Brockton, Mass.) had the finish near the top of the crease, after bringing the puck out front from the right side. Sophomore forward Haley Parker (Londonderry, N.H.) provided the lone assist on the third of the season for Massaro at 10:32.

Saint Michael's leveled things at 1-1 at the 15:16 mark. In the right-wing circle, freshman forward Jenna Harrison made a diving play to get her stick to the puck and push it to junior defenseman Torrie Gray in the high slot. Gray quickly moved the puck to senior forward Madison Nichols, who was stationed at the left post and banged home her first goal of the season.

Franklin Pierce would reclaim the lead before the first intermission, with just 70 seconds remaining in the opening stanza. Sophomore forward Emily Kramer (Rockville, Md.) and junior forward Kelsey Holmes (Warwick, R.I.) teamed to work the puck to sophomore defenseman Hayley Doneghey (North Attleborough, Mass.) near the middle of the blue line. Doneghey carried towards the slot, made a move around a defender and then put a backhand finish home for her first collegiate goal.

Saint Michael's drew even again, at 2-2, just past the midway point of the contest. After sophomore forward Maddie Gervais and junior defenseman Alissa Sullivan provided the setup on the right-wing side, junior forward Jordan Monbouquette had her first shot stymied at the right post. She stuck with the play though and put home the rebound for her third goal of the season, at 10:03.

Once again, the Ravens jumped back out front before the intermission, at 18:01. Amid a scramble outside the top of the crease, Kramer was the first to find the puck and finished off her first goal of the year to post her first career multiple-point game (1-1-2). Amato and sophomore forward Ann Margaret DiSciscio (Litchfield, N.H.) tallied the assists.

Franklin Pierce notched an important insurance marker just 2:55 into the third period. Amato took the puck and cut from the slot towards the net and eventually slipped the puck home at the right post for her sixth goal of the year. Junior defenseman Delaney Guimont (Bedford, N.H.) posted the lone assist on the play.

Saint Michael's struck with an extra attacker in a delayed-penalty situation at 12:59 to create the 4-3 final. After the Purple Knights dug the puck out in their own end, Harrison carried it through the neutral zone on the left-wing side. She eventually got the puck to Nichols in the offensive end, and the latter put home a shot from near the top of the left circle for her second goal of the night.

Saint Michael's would struggle to get junior goaltender Vika Simons to the bench for the extra attacker in the final minutes of the game. She eventually got off the ice for the final 15 seconds, but it was to no avail, as the Ravens skated away with the one-goal victory.

Sophomore netminder Kelly Turney (Fort Gratiot, Mich.) finished with 23 saves against 26 shots on goal to pick up the win (3-1-0) in the crease for Franklin Pierce. Simons (2-1-0) stopped 33 of 37 shots in the losing effort for Saint Michael's.

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 hockey apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (https://www.fpuravens.com/store).