MANCHESTER, N.H. (November 2, 2019) – The back end of weekend series sometimes have the tendency to be somewhat sleepy affairs in college hockey. Saturday afternoon's contest at Sullivan Arena between the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team and Saint Anselm was anything but. The two teams were locked in a scoreless affair through two, as sophomore goaltender Emme Ostrander (Westborough, Mass.) and senior goaltender Michaela Kane showcased their skills at opposite ends of the ice. The squads then traded power-play goals in the middle of the third, before senior forward Amanda Conger potted a shorthanded game-winner 4:09 into overtime, as Saint Anselm pulled out a 2-1 win on home ice.

The result caused the two teams to split their New England Women's Hockey Alliance weekend series. With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 3-2-0 (3-1-0 NEWHA), while Saint Anselm improves to 5-3-0 (5-3-0 NEWHA). The two teams will meet again on Nov. 19 at Franklin Pierce and Jan. 7 at Saint Anselm to round out the four-game season series.

After the first two periods went scoreless, it was a power-play goal on each side in the middle of the second period. Each team was able to cash in after their opponent committed a roughing penalty away from the play. First, with junior defenseman Kathleen LeFebre in the box, junior forward Marissa Massaro (Brockton, Mass.) worked the puck to freshman forward Katelyn Brightbill (Annville, Pa.) low in the right-wing circle. Brightbill put a quick shot on net and it had just enough steam on it to slip between the pads of Kane and into the net to open the scoring. It was Brightbill's first collegiate goal, at the 9:54 mark.

Saint Anselm would answer just 2:16 later, with senior forward Alli Sugar (Canton, Conn.) in the penalty box. From the left point, senior defenseman Megan Klaus sent the puck into the middle of the left circle for sophomore forward Erin Meyers. Meyers quickly found a lane to slip a centering feed out front for fellow sophomore forward Kelly Golini. Golini's one-time shot from there snuck inside the right post to even the score.

Franklin Pierce had two further power-play opportunities after the Golini goal, but Kane turned aside all four shots on goal the Ravens were able to generate. Franklin Pierce finished the afternoon 1-for-7 on the man-advantage.

The Ravens earned another power-play chance late in overtime, as Klaus was sent off for tripping at the four-minute mark, but it would be Saint Anselm which won the game, shorthanded, nine seconds later. LeFebre and junior defenseman Gabby Monaco combined to spring Conger down the left-wing side and into the offensive zone with a head of steam. From the middle of the left circle, Conger wired a shot to top-right corner, which drilled the intersection of the post and the crossbar and caromed into the net for her second goal of the season.

Ostrander (2-2-0) finished with 30 saves against 32 shots on goal and suffered the loss in the crease for Franklin Pierce. Kane (2-1-0) stopped 20 of 21 shots at the other end to pick up the win for Saint Anselm.

The Ravens return to the ice on Tuesday, Nov. 5, when they return home to host Plymouth State in a non-conference contest. Opening faceoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena in Winchendon, Mass.

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).