WORCESTER, Mass. (January 21, 2020) – Senior forward Alex Lester (Methuen, Mass.) scored a pair of first-period goals to help the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team build a 3-0 lead on Tuesday night at Assumption. It would not be enough, however, as the host Greyhounds roared back with three in the second and two more in the third to come away with a 5-3 win in Northeast-10 Conference play at Buffone Arena. Sophomore forward Michael Zampanti scored twice in the comeback for Assumption.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 10-7-2 (4-3-1 NE10), while Assumption improves to 8-7-2 (5-3-0 NE10). It was the first meeting of the year between the two teams. They will wrap up the three-game season series with a weekend home-and-home set to conclude the regular season on Feb. 21-22.

Lester, the NE10's leading point and goal scorer, popped home his 12^th and 13^th markers of the season in the first period as the Ravens opened up a 2-0 lead early. He opened the scoring at the 10:06 mark, off an assist from sophomore forward Chris Stevenson (Arvada, Colo.) and doubled the lead with a power-play tally at 17:19, off of helpers from sophomore forward Ryan Gorbett (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) and senior forward James Morrissey (West Haven, Conn.).

Franklin Pierce pushed the lead out to 3-0 just on the other side of the first intermission, as graduate student Sam Gagnon (Montreal, Quebec) got on the board 48 seconds into the stanza. His third of the season would go as an unassisted tally and chased the Assumption starting goaltender, junior David Altman from the game. Senior David Zulauf took over the rest of the way in the crease for the Greyhounds.

Unfortunately for the Ravens, it would be all Assumption following the goaltender switch. The Greyhounds struck for three goals in a span of 8:57 to knot the game at 3-3 heading into the second intermission. Sophomore forward Elliott McGuire got the scoring started for Assumption with his second of the season at 10:25, unassisted. Zampanti followed with his eighth of the campaign at 16:50, courtesy of assists from sophomore forwards Devon Sheth and Robert Holyoke. Senior forward Brendan Philippon got the score level at 19:22, with the lone assist credited to his freshman brother, Colin Philippon.

The Greyhounds needed just 30 seconds into the third frame to break the tie and take the lead for good. Zampanti netted his second of the night for the eventual game-winner, while Holyoke added his second assist of the night. An empty-net, shorthanded tally by sophomore forward Dante Maribito at 19:37 sealed the deal, as Assumption tallied five unanswered goals to rally for the 5-3 victory.

Junior goaltender Ian Wallace (West Islip, N.Y.) finished with 27 saves against 31 shots and suffered the loss (5-4-1) in the Franklin Pierce net. Altman stopped just 10 of 13 shots over the opening 20:48 for Assumption before being relieved. Zulauf (2-4-0) stopped all 21 shots he faced the rest of the way to pick up the win for the Greyhounds.

The Ravens return to the ice this weekend, for a home-and-home series with NE10 and intrastate foe Southern New Hampshire. Opening faceoff at SNHU is set for 7:20 p.m. Friday at the Ice Den in Hooksett, N.H., while puck drop at Franklin Pierce is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday 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).