Recap by Student Staff Writter Rich Rosa

MANCHESTER, N.H (2/17/2024) -- With major playoff implications on the line tonight at Sullivan Arena, the Franklin Pierce Ravens defeated the St. Anselm Hawks 4-3 in overtime to secure a home game in the first round of the 2023-2024 NE-10 Playoffs. 

Score: Franklin Pierce 4, St. Anselm 3 

Records: Franklin Pierce (13-14-0, 10-10-0 NE10), St. Anselm (9-17-2, 7-11-2 NE10) 

Location: Manchester, N.H (Sullivan Arena) 

Date: Saturday, February 17, 2024 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• Franklin Pierce opened the scoring six minutes into the first period. Sophomore forward Matt Horan (Methuen, MA) scored his 12th goal of the season. The Ravens led 1-0 at the first intermission. 

• A little over seven minutes into the second period, junior forward Brendan Spinale (Canton, MA) scored his sixth goal of the season to give Franklin Pierce a 2-0 lead over their intra-state rivals. 

• Four and a half minutes later, St. Anselm cut the Franklin Pierce lead in half. Junior forward Hunter Brackett scored his second goal of the weekend series. With two minutes remaining in the second period, senior forward Jac Cordeiro scored his second goal of the season to tie the game at two heading into the second intermission. 

• A little over a minute into the final period, senior defenseman Leonard Brochu III gave the Hawks their first of the night. He scored his first goal of the season. With less than two minutes to go in regulation, senior forward Cody Rumsey (York, PA) tied the game at three with his sixth goal of the season. This game needed overtime to decide which team would host a first-round NE-10 Playoff game. 

• Just 25 seconds into overtime, freshman forward John Sterling (Centreville, VA) scored his third goal in five games to give Franklin Pierce the 4-3 win. The Ravens got their first overtime win of the season and secured a home playoff game for the first time in 11 years. 

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS: 

• Sophomore goaltender Jeremy Connor (Hazlet, NJ) made 35 saves on 38 shots and picked up his sixth win of the season. 

• Franklin Pierce was 0 for 2 on the power play. St. Anselm was 0 for 6 on the power play. 

• Both teams had 38 shots on goal. 

• The Ravens won 43% (29 for 67) of the faceoffs. 

NEXT UP FOR THE RAVENS: 

• With the win tonight against St. Anselm, the Franklin Pierce Ravens have clinched a home playoff game for the first time since 2013. 

• They will face off against St. Anselm on Tuesday, February 20, with puck drop at 8 p.m. at Gardner Veterans Arena in Gardner, Massachusetts.