Murphy scores second goal in as many games

WORCESTER, Mass. (November 19, 2014) – Freshman forward Brad Riccardi (Scarsdale, N.Y.) scored 66 seconds into overtime on Wednesday night, after sophomore forward Conor Mauro (Shrewsbury, Mass.) tied the game with 30 seconds to play in regulation, as the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team rallied for a 3-2 win on the road against Assumption in Northeast-10 Conference play at Buffone Arena. Sophomore forward Ryan Gomez and junior forward Alex Erban scored in defeat for Assumption.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 1-4-0 (1-1-0 Northeast-10), while Assumption falls to 1-4-0 (1-2-0 Northeast-10). The Ravens and the Greyhounds have now split the first two games of the three-game season series, with each winning on the other's home ice. The rubber game, Jan. 27 at Franklin Pierce, will determine which team gets the two Northeast-10 standings points for winning the season series.

With the game tied 1-1 and time winding down, goals began to come in a hurry in The City of the Seven Hills on Wednesday night, as Assumption struck for a go-ahead goal with just 2:52 to play in regulation. The Greyhounds came into the offensive end 2-on-1, as senior forward Brennen Shaw had the puck on the left side. Shaw sent the puck across to the right side for Erban, who beat Franklin Pierce freshman goaltender Etienne Roy (Saint-Henri, Quebec) from there with a shot to the lower-right corner for his fourth goal of the season.

As the game wound inside a minute to play, it seemed as if the Erban goal would stand as the game-winner for Assumption. With 50 seconds to play, Franklin Pierce pulled Roy in favor of the extra attacker, and the tactic worked, as the Ravens tied the game with just 30 seconds to play in the third stanza. The original shot on the play came from junior forward Matt Batis (Lakewood, N.Y.) and went wide. The rebound ricocheted around the boards to Mauro, who collected the puck, stepped into the left-wing circle and snapped a shot to the top corner for his first goal of the campaign to force overtime.

Franklin Pierce was able to cap the late rally by striking again 66 seconds into overtime to come away with the win. Again the goal came after a wide shot, this time from Riccardi. As the shot came back off the end boards, Assumption junior goaltender Chris Hemhauser attempted to smother the puck, but could not gain control of it. Instead, the puck wound up in front of the net again, and Riccardi was the first man on the scene to put away his second goal of the campaign, as well as his first collegiate game-winning goal.

Earlier in the game, Assumption scored the first period's only goal, at the 17:26 mark. Senior defenseman Ben Kuzma sprung Gomez with a pass through the neutral zone. The latter wound up in all alone, deked Roy and salted away his first goal of the year.

Franklin Pierce answered with the only goal of the second period, at the 10:23 mark. Mauro, who finished with a goal and an assist, had the puck behind the net. He fed to the right circle for Murphy, who quickly snapped a shot to the top corner to tie the game at 1-1. For Murphy, it was his second goal of the season, as well as his second goal in as many games.

Roy finished with 30 saves against 32 shots on goal to pick up his first career win (1-0-0) between the pipes for Franklin Pierce. Hemhauser turned aside 29 of the 32 shots on his net and suffered the loss (1-3-0) in the crease for Assumption.

The Ravens return to the ice on Saturday, Nov. 22, when they travel to Stonehill for a Northeast-10 Conference contest. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Foxboro Sports Center in Foxboro, Mass. Franklin Pierce next plays at home on Tuesday, Nov. 25 against Westfield State at 7 p.m.

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 men's ice hockey apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' brand new online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).