Recap by student-staff writer Colin Struckman

WINCHENDON, Mass. (1/14/25) – In a back-and-forth thriller on Tuesday night, the Franklin Pierce Ravens men's ice hockey team fell just short to the Post Eagles 4-3 in Northeast-10 conference play.

Score: Post 4, Franklin Pierce 3
Records: Franklin Pierce (0-15-1, 0-9 NE-10), Post
Location: Jason Ritchie Ice Arena, Winchendon, Mass.
Date: Tuesday, January 14, 2024

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Ravens struck first late in the first period with 5:15 left in the frame. Senior forward Brendan Spinale (Canton, Mass.) fed a pass behind the net to sophomore forward Nick Tessier (Beaver Falls, Pa.), who then backhanded it in front to sophomore forward Cooper Anderson (Marquette, Mich.). Anderson ripped it in the back of the cage to give the Ravens the 1-0 lead, their first lead on home ice this season. They held the 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
• The Ravens tacked onto their lead 7:53 into the second period on the power play. Graduate defenseman Dimitris Christou (Skaneatleles, NY) slid a pass over to TJ Branish (Littleton, Colo.) who fired a shot that deflected off an Eagle defender and in the net. Junior forward Austin Pick (Troutdale, Ore.) was also credited with an assist. It was the Ravens first power play goal since November 23rd against Saint Michael's.
• The Eagles wasted no time responding, scoring just 18 seconds later. Holden Beckett tucked it in the left side of the net with an open cage to cut the deficit to 2-1.
• The Eagles wouldn't stop there. Hugh McGuigan grabbed the loose puck in the middle of the slot and slid it in the back of the cage to tie it 2-2.
• The momentum carried on for the Eagles as they struck again 52 seconds later. Nate McDevitt capitalized to put them in front. They took the 3-2 lead into the 2nd intermission.
• The Ravens power play success continued in the 3rd period, tying the score 3-3 8:51 into the frame. Dimitris Christou controlled the puck behind the net and fed it to the top of the blue line for TJ Branish. He then slid the puck over to Austin Pick made it a multi-point night as he blasted a shot from the right circle into the left side of the cage.
• However, the Eagles wouldn't quit. They regained the lead 13:14 into the final period. Nate McDevitt added his 2nd goal of the night to go ahead 4-3.
• The door opened late in the game for a Ravens comeback. The Eagles took a 5-minute major penalty for a hit from behind and a 2-minute minor penalty for tripping. However, the Ravens couldn't take advantage.

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS:

• The Eagles outshot the Ravens 35-30.
• The Ravens went 2-7 on the power play and the Eagles went 0-1.
• Sophomore goaltender Theo Jacobs (Hingham, Mass.) suffered the loss in net for the Ravens, making 31 saves on 35 shots he faced.

NEXT UP FOR THE RAVENS: The Ravens travel to Manchester for a weekend series against their inter-state rival Saint Anselm in NE-10 action. Puck drop on Friday (1/17) is at 6 p.m.