Recap by student-staff writer Colin Struckman

WINCHENDON, Mass. (1/31/25) – Despite a strong start and a career-high 51-save performance from freshman goaltender Jeff Reda (Larchmont, N.Y.), the Franklin Pierce men's ice hockey team was unable to hold off a late surge from Assumption, falling 5-3 at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena.

Score: Assumption 5, Franklin Pierce 3
Records: Franklin Pierce (0-21-1, 0-15-0 NE-10), Assumption (11-14-0, 8-7-0 NE-10)
Location: Jason Ritchie Ice Arena, Winchendon, M.A.
Date: Friday, January 31, 2025

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Ravens ended the 1st period on a high note to break the scoreless tie. They struck first 13:58 into the opening frame. Sophomore forward John Sterling (Centreville, Va.) corralled the loose puck off the face-off and fed it to sophomore defenseman Todd Branish (Littleton, Colo.), who then dished it to junior defenseman Doug McGuire (Elk Grove Village, Ill.). McGuire blasted a shot that was deflected in front by junior forward Austin Pick (Troutdale, Ore.).
• The Ravens tacked on to their lead about 2 and a half minutes later. Freshman forward Trent King (Malone, N.Y.) gained the attacking zone and fed a centering pass that skipped off the stick of freshman forward Mario Paganini (Harrison, N.Y.) and right to freshman forward Thomas Perivolotis (Littleton, Mass.) who fired a wicked wrister into the back of the cage. The Ravens took the 2-0 lead into the 2nd period.
• The Greyhounds responded nicely to begin the 2nd period. Ryan Decker whacked home a loose puck in the dying seconds of a power play to cut the deficit in half 2-1.
• The Ravens fought right back after the Greyhounds goal, striking 3:31 later. Freshman forward Matthew Frett (Cherry Hill, N.J.) freed up the loose puck behind the net and dished it to freshman forward Phillip Parker (Medfield, Mass.). Parker then centered it to freshman forward Gio Ursillo (Boise, Idaho) in the slot and he rocketed a shot in the bottom right corner to give the Ravens the 3-1 lead. The Greyhounds pulled their starting netminder Callum Welch for Thomas McLarnon off the bench.
• The Greyhounds ended the 2nd period nicely as they scored with 3:49 left in the frame. Daniel Lemanski snuck a shot home on the left circle to make it 3-2 Ravens heading into the 2nd intermission.
• The Greyhounds came out strong once again to begin the 3rd period. Ryan Decker tied the score came streaking down the left wing and snuck it past the short side of freshman goaltender Jeff Reda (Larchmont, N.Y.).
• Assumption carried this momentum into the late stages of the 3rd period as Jake DiNapoli roofed a shot from the blue line to give the Greyhounds the 4-3 lead, their first lead of the night.
• Ronny Paragallo iced the game with an empty netter with just 36 seconds left on the clock to give the Greyhounds the come-from-behind road victory.

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS:

• The Greyhounds outshot the Ravens 56-29.
• Both teams went scoreless on the power play. The Ravens went 0-5 and the Greyhounds went 0-4.
• Jeffrey Reda suffered the loss but recorded a career-high 51 saves in net for the Ravens.  

NEXT UP FOR THE RAVENS: The Ravens will take a short road trip to take on the Keene State Owls on Saturday (2/1). Puck drop is at 7 p.m.