SHELTON, Conn. (December 3, 2016) – Facing a 3-2 third-period deficit on Saturday afternoon, the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team struck for a 3-3 tie with just 2:21 to play, only to see Sacred Heart find the game-winning goal 36 seconds later, with 1:45 remaining. It was senior forward Megan Finlay who had the game-winning goal late in the third period, as the Pioneers pulled out a 4-3 win in non-conference play at Sports Center of Connecticut.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 7-3-1, while Sacred Heart improves to 4-6-1.

The two teams traded goals after the midpoint of the first period. Junior defenseman Carly Radovich opened the scoring at the 12:09 mark, with her third goal of the season, an unassisted marker. Franklin Pierce answered at 16:50, as senior forward Alysha Raimo (Fitchburg, Mass.) put home her fourth of the campaign, off an assist from junior forward Alex Brolsma (Bloomington, Minn.).

Sacred Heart would then take a one-goal lead on two occasions in the second period. First, junior forward Taylor Moreland notched her first of two goals in the stanza at the 3:10 mark. Sophomore forward Katie Stueve had the lone assist on Moreland's ninth goal of the year. Again Franklin Pierce had the answer, this time at the 5:44 mark, as Brolsma struck for a goal of her own. Senior defenseman Katie Flynn (Sandwich, Mass.) provided the assist on Brolsma's ninth goal of the season.

Sacred Heart would take a 3-2 lead into the intermission, as Moreland struck again with 3:40 to play in the middle frame. Her 10th of the campaign came courtesy of an assist from senior defenseman Amie Varano at the 16:20 mark.

Much of the third period would go scoreless, before the Ravens knotted the game at 3-3 with a late power-play marker, at the 17:39 mark. Senior forward Michelle Holmes (Goffstown, N.H.) set up the second goal of the season for junior forward Hailee Craig (Canton, Mich.) with just 2:21 remaining.

The tie was short-lived, however, as the Pioneers needed just 36 seconds to find the answer, break the tie and secure the game-winning goal. It was Finlay who did the honors by potting her third of the season at the 18:15 mark, off of assists from senior forward Teagan Ketchum and junior forward Brittany Smith.

Junior goaltender Madison Murray (Berkley, Mich.) suffered the loss (1-1-0) in net for Franklin Pierce, while junior Devan Kane (2-6-1) tallied the win at the other end of the ice for Sacred Heart. Accurate shots on goal and save totals were unavailable from host Sacred Heart at press time.

The Ravens return to the ice on Saturday, Dec. 10, when they return home to host Salem State in a non-conference contest. Opening faceoff is set for 2 p.m. at the Jason Ritchie Ice Arena in Winchendon, Mass.

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).