Ravens notch 15th victory

WINCHENDON, Mass. (January 21, 2014) – Sophomore forward Karsyn Baker (Detroit, Mich.) and freshman forward Lanie Matsumoto (Fort Collins, Colo.) scored 36 seconds apart in the second period on Tuesday night to lead the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team to a 2-1 win over Saint Michael's at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. Freshman goaltender Tina Frasca chalked up 33 saves in the loss for Saint Michael's.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 15-2-1 and is unbeaten in its last seven, while Saint Michael's falls to 1-12-2 (0-7-1 ECAC East). The 15 wins are good for the most in the country among Division II and III teams, while the Ravens rank third among the same group in winning percentage, behind SUNY Plattsburgh (14-0-1) and Saint Anselm (14-2-0). On Tuesday, Franklin Pierce piled up a 35-18 advantage in shots, including 30-10 over the final two periods. For the Ravens, the win also finished off a two-game season sweep of Saint Michael's.

After the first period went without a goal, Franklin Pierce scored twice in the opening 2:32 of the second stanza to take a lead it would never relinquish. First, sophomore forward Michaela Faia (Malden, Mass.) sent the puck to fellow sophomore forward Colleen Doucette (Wakefield, Mass.), who got the puck to Baker in the right circle. Baker sliced into the slot and shoveled her team-leading 13th goal of the season between the pads of Frasca to open the scoring at the 1:56 mark.

Only 36 seconds later, a defensive breakdown by Saint Michael's near its own blue line allowed the Ravens to double the lead. After the Ravens took possession, the play left freshman forwards Marisa Ketterman (Palmer, Alaska) and Matsumoto on a two-on-one in the offensive zone. The former dished off to the latter, who put away her second goal of the campaign at 2:32. Freshman forward Nina Danforth (Stratford, Conn.) picked up an assist on the play as well. For Ketterman, the assist pushed her point-scoring streak to five games (4-3-7). The goal prompted Saint Michael's to use its timeout in an attempt to re-organize and re-focus.

Shortly after the midway point of the third period, Saint Michael's junior forward Kristen Spulecki was whistled for tripping at 13:46 and Franklin Pierce took its timeout, looking to come up with an insurance marker on the ensuing power play. Instead, it was Saint Michael's which found a goal during the penalty, as a defensive miscue left Thomas with a partial breakaway. Thomas was stymied on her initial shot, but finished on the rebound to score her fourth goal of the year, as well as the Purple Knights' first shorthanded goal of the season.

Franklin Pierce freshman goaltender Shannon O'Neil (Tewksbury, Mass.) finished with 17 saves to pick up the win (8-0-0) in net. For her part, Frasca piled up 33 saves, but suffered the loss (0-5-2) anyway between the pipes for Saint Michael's.

The Ravens return to the ice on Friday, Jan. 24, when they remain home to host Sacred Heart. Opening faceoff is set for 8 p.m. at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena.

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