WINCHENDON, Mass. (January 7, 2017) – With snow falling outside on Saturday night, the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team opened the second half of its season at the Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. The Ravens' offense came out of the break a bit frozen itself, as Franklin Pierce was outshot on the night, 36-15, by Saint Anselm, which posted a 5-1 road win in New England Hockey Conference play.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 8-4-1 (4-3-0 NEHC), while Saint Anselm improves to 9-1-2 (8-1-0 NEHC).

Saint Anselm scored a pair of power-play goals in the first 12 minutes on Saturday and never really looked back, capitalizing on the first two man-advantage opportunities of the day. Senior forward Allison Butler -- who went for 2-2-4 on the night -- opened the scoring at the 6:01 mark, with Franklin Pierce junior forward Alex Brolsma (Bloomington, Minn.) in the box for checking. Butler's sixth of the season came unassisted, as she beat senior goaltender Shannon O'Neil (Tewksbury, Mass.) to the short side from a sharp angle on the left-wing side.

The first collegiate goal for freshman defenseman Megan Klaus doubled the lead at the 11:37 mark, this time with Ravens senior defenseman Katie Flynn (Sandwich, Mass.) sitting for tripping. Strong puck movement set up the second straight power-play goal for the Hawks, as the play started with senior defenseman Martha Findley at the left point. She sent the puck to the top of the right circle for Butler, who in turn sent it across the slot to the bottom of the left circle. Klaus was waiting there for the one-time finish to make it 2-0.

Saint Anselm would push the lead as high as 4-0 in the second period before Franklin Pierce got on the board. At the 4:10 mark, senior defenseman Victoria Shea put a shot to the top-right corner of the goal while tumbling over a defender at the bottom of the right circle. Butler had the lone assist on Shea's first goal of the campaign. Klaus followed with her second goal of the game at 7:25, with a long slap shot through traffic from the middle of the blue line. Findley and junior forward Kaitlyn Spillane had the assists, as Klaus parlayed her first college goal into her first career multiple-goal game.

Franklin Pierce struck for its lone tally of the proceedings on a 5-on-3 at the 12:16 mark. Junior forward Hailee Craig (Canton, Mich.) provided the one-time finish from right on top of the crease. Senior forward Michelle Holmes (Goffstown, N.H.) had the feed from the left-wing side, while Brolsma added a helper as well on Craig's fifth of the season.

Saint Anselm notched the only goal of the third period to create the 5-1 final. Butler put together a strong individual effort up the middle of the ice, beating the final defender and deking O'Neil before finishing inside the left post for her second score and fourth point of the night. Findley had the lone assist -- her third helper of the game -- at the 7:21 mark.

O'Neil (7-3-1) finished with 31 saves against 36 shots on goal and suffered the loss in net for Franklin Pierce. At the other end of the ice, sophomore netminder Maddie Scavotto (7-0-2) tallied 14 saves against 15 shots to pick up the win for Saint Anselm.

The Ravens return to the ice on Friday, Jan. 13, when they remain home to host Salve Regina in an NEHC contest. Opening faceoff is set for 7 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' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).