Ravens Blank Purple Knights, 5-0

Recap by student-staff writer Colin Struckman 

WINCHENDON, Mass. (12/6/24) – The Franklin Pierce Ravens women's ice hockey team cruised past the Saint Michael's Purple Knights on Friday afternoon, defeating them 5-0 to earn a win in NEWHA play at home. 

Score: Franklin Pierce 5, Saint Michael's 0 

Records: Franklin Pierce (8-8-0, 8-6-0 NEWHA), Saint Michael's (1-16-0, 1-12-0 NEWHA) 

Location: Jason Ritchie Ice Arena, Winchendon, M.A. 

Date: Friday, December 6, 2024 

 HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• The Ravens struck first on the power play at the tail end of the first period, with just 1:04 remaining in the frame. Junior defenseman Maggie Korneta (Naperville, Ill.) dished a pass in the slot to junior forward McKenzie Rich (Rochester, Minn.) who tapped it in for the finish, giving the Ravens the 1-0 lead. The Ravens headed into the second period with the lead.  

• The Ravens opened the flood gates in the second period. It began just 1:05 into the frame. Freshman defenseman Lilah Bauer (Monroe, Wis.) banked an outlet pass off the boards for freshman forward Caleigh Murphy (Belle Harbor, N.Y.) who skated down the left circle and ripped it in the back of the cage, putting the Ravens up 2-0.  

• The Ravens kept firing, scoring again just 3:04 later. They added their second power play goal of the game after a 5-minute major penalty on Emersynn McGillis for boarding. Senior defenseman Julia Stevens (Minneapolis, Minn.) fired a shot from the top of the blue line creating a rebound in front. Sophomore forward Lauren Maras (Alexandria, Minn.) cleaned up the loose change and potted it home, giving the Ravens the commanding 3-0 lead.  

• Just 1:22 later, the Ravens tacked on another power play goal during the 5-minute major. Sophomore forward Emma Laroche (Highgate, Vt.) fed a pass at the top of the blue line to freshman defenseman Casey Coffey (Hudson, Wis.) who then slid a pass to sophomore defenseman Alex Cistolo (Berea, Ohio) and she roofed a shot from the right circle into the top right corner. This gave the Ravens the 4-0 lead.  

• The Ravens capped off their dominant performance with another tally in the third period. 3:31 into the frame Lauren Maras added her second goal of the night. Maggie Korneta slipped a backhand pass up ice to freshman defenseman Maiah Aanenson (White Bear Lake, Minn.). She then danced into the attacking zone and fed it to Lauren Maras who buried it in the left corner of the goal, closing out the 5-0 win over the Purple Knights. 

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS: 

• The Ravens outshot the Purple Knights 55-18.  

• Senior goaltender Gwen Bowler (Canterbury, N.H.) secured the win and the shutout in net for the Ravens, stopping all 18 shots she faced. 

• The Ravens went 3-7 on the power play, while the Purple Knights went 0-4. 

NEXT UP FOR THE RAVENS: 

The Ravens aim for the series sweep over the Purple Knights tomorrow afternoon (12/7). Puck drop is at 1 p.m. at the Jason Ritchie Ice Arena for the Ravens Morgan's Message Game.