Kison Nets OT Winner Again, Women’s Ice Hockey Wins at Saint Michael’s, 3-2

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (November 8, 2019) -- For the second straight game, the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team went to overtime. For the second straight game, freshman forward Ava Kison (Eau Claire, Wis.) scored the game-winner. This time, the Ravens were on the road at Saint Michael's College on Friday night and picked up a 3-2 win in the front end of a two-game, weekend series at Cairns Arena.

With the win in New England Women's Hockey Alliance play, the Ravens move to a 5-2-0 (4-1-0 NEWHA) record on the year, while the Purple Knights of Saint Michael's fall to a 2-3-0 (2-3-0 NEWHA) record. The two teams will meet again on Saturday, at 1 p.m. at Cairns Arena, to close out the weekend back-to-back. 

The first period was scoreless despite the Ravens outshooting the Purple Knights 15-4. Franklin Pierce would win the shot battle on the night, 46-23. Sophomore goaltender Emme Ostrander (Westborough, Mass.) stopped 21 shots en route to the victory (3-2-0). Senior Vika Simons (2-3-0) piled up 43 saves at the other end of the ice, but was stuck with the loss anyway for Saint Michael's.

Senior tri-captain defenseman Delaney Guimont (Bedford, N.H.) scored the first goal of the game at the 8:48 mark in the second period while on the power play. Junior forward Haley Parker (Londonderry, N.H.) worked the puck to freshman defenseman Bethany Ross (Canton, Mich.). Ross' shot from the point was saved, but Guimont was able to find the rebound and bury it to give the Ravens a 1-0 lead with her second goal of the season.

The Ravens struck again just over five minutes later, at the 14:07 mark. Freshman Becca Kniss (Eden Prairie, Minn.) got a pass from Parker while moving through the neutral zone. Kniss carried the puck all the way to the net and put a shot between the legs of Simons to double the lead with her third goal of the campaign. Parker picked up her second assist of the night, and freshman defenseman Stefanie Caban (Fitchburg, Mass.) added the secondary helper.

The next two goals would be scored by Saint Michael's, late in the second frame to even the score. The first came at the 17:30 mark on the power play. Senior defenseman Arianna Boscia took a shot from just inside the blue line and found the right side of the net for her second goal of the year, off an assist from junior forward Maddie Gervais. The Purple Knights' second goal came in the last minute of the period, at 19:23, when freshman forward Maeghan Kennard found Gervais in the neutral zone. Gervais carried to the net and put her shot upstairs to level things at 2-2.

After the third period went scoreless, the stage was set for Kison's second set of heroics in as many games. After a scrum in the left-wing corner, Boscia tried to shovel the puck behind her own net, but could not slip it past the stick of the fore-checking Kison. Kison took control behind the net, whipped out front on the right-wing side and roofed a shot for her third goal of the season, to touch off Franklin Pierce's second overtime celebration of the week.

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).