Brolsma nets first two career goals

WINCHENDON, Mass. (November 8, 2014) – Junior forward Colleen Doucette (Wakefield, Mass.) piled up a career-best four points on two goals and two assists on Saturday afternoon to lead the way for the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team in a 7-0 whitewashing of New England College in ECAC East play at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. Freshman forward Alex Brolsma (Bloomington, Minn.) also scored twice for the Ravens, the first two goals of her career.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 1-1-0 (1-1-0 ECAC East), while New England College falls to 0-4-0 (0-2-0 ECAC East). The win is the first for the Ravens as a member of the ECAC East.

Franklin Pierce got the only goal it would need on Saturday afternoon before the first minute had run off the clock, as sophomore forward Nina Danforth (Stratford, Conn.) netted her first of the season just 59 seconds into the proceedings. Junior forward Karsyn Baker (Detroit, Mich.) and Doucette provided the helpers as the play developed and finished around the net.

The Ravens pushed the lead to 2-0 at 15:09 of the opening stanza, on the first of the campaign for junior forward Francesca Paciello (Clinton, N.Y.). Off assists from junior forward Bryana Harron (Woburn, Mass.) and freshman forward Sara Diltz (Palmer, Alaska), Paciello went top-shelf from the bottom of the right-wing circle.

A pair of strikes in quick succession early in the second period doubled the lead to 4-0 for Franklin Pierce. First, at the 3:04 mark, Brolsma notched her first collegiate tally out in front of the net, off assists from junior forward Haylea Barbieri (Plainville, Mass.) and sophomore forward Marisa Ketterman (Palmer, Alaska). Off the ensuing faceoff, Doucette gained control of the puck and broke in all alone to put away her first of the year, just seven seconds later, at 3:11. Baker picked up the lone assist for having won the faceoff.

The fourth Franklin Pierce goal prompted a switch in net for NEC, as senior Lauren Hopps was lifted in favor of Brooklyn Doak. The Ravens would beat Doak once in the time that remained in the second period, with a shorthanded strike to grow the lead to 5-0 at 17:37. With the puck on the left-wing side, Doucette broke in 2-on-1 with Baker. Doucette took the initial shot herself, though Doak made the save. The rebound came straight back out to Doucette, who went left, drew the goaltender out of her crease and then slipped a pass to Baker. The latter had an easy finish into the empty net for her first goal of the campaign.

The Ravens added a pair of goals in the third period to create the 7-0 final. First, at 7:59, Brolsma took a pass from junior defenseman Hayley Arnold (Barre, Vt.) and converted her second goal of the afternoon with a shot which hit the pipe and then found the back of the net. Barbieri added her second assist of the day on the play. Later, at 17:08, Doucette capped her four-point day with her second goal of the afternoon, as Arnold again provided the lone assist.

Sophomore goaltender Noelle White (Corona, Calif.) stopped all 20 shots she faced on Saturday afternoon to pick up the win (1-0-0) and notch her third career shutout for Franklin Pierce. Hopps made 10 saves against 14 shots before departing and took the loss (0-3-0) between the pipes for NEC. Doak made 13 saves against 16 shots over the final 36:49.

The Ravens return to the ice on Friday, Nov. 14, when they remain home to host Castleton State in an ECAC East contest. Opening faceoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at the 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).