SHELTON, Conn. (January 31, 2020) – Both offenses were a little more lively on Saturday afternoon, as compared to Friday at Sports Center of Connecticut, as were the power-play units, but the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team came out on the short end again on the road at Sacred Heart. A second-period goal from senior forward Maddie Bishop stood as the difference, and sophomore defenseman Kennedy Spiering chalked up three assists, as the Pioneers dealt the Ravens a 3-2 defeat in New England Women's Hockey Alliance play.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 17-9-0 (10-6-0 NEWHA), while first-place Sacred Heart improves to 17-10-0 (14-2-0 NEWHA). The victory allowed Sacred Heart to take the four-game season series, 3-1-0.

After the two teams combined for just 41 shots on Friday, it was a 32-28 edge in the shots department for Sacred Heart on Saturday, in what was yet another tightly-contested game between two teams with a lot of close games in their all-time series. The Pioneers got the scoring started just 3:19 into the proceedings, with the only even-strength goal of the afternoon. Freshman forward Sophie Lupone banged home her own rebound at the right post for her third goal of the season, while Spiering picked up the first of her three assists on the day.

A power-play goal at 12:52 allowed Sacred Heart to push the lead out to 2-0. Spiering chalked up another assist, as she teed up a shot from the middle of the blue line. It was deflected en route by freshman forward Rachael DeLong, who tallied her second goal of the campaign. Each team's power play would finish 2-for-4 in the game.

Franklin Pierce got the first of its two power-play markers at 17:32, to cut the deficit in half heading into the first intermission. Freshman forward Becca Kniss (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and junior forward Nicole Amato (Billerica, Mass.) combined on the right side to work the puck up high to senior defenseman Bridgette Prentiss (Buffalo, N.Y.) at the middle of the blue line. Prentiss wired a shot to the top-right corner from there to chalk up her team-leading 15^th goal of the year. It was her 11^th power play goal of the season, a total which is tied for first in the country with Robert Morris junior defenseman Emily Curlett.

Sacred Heart had the only goal of the second period, a power-play tally at 3:39, to make it a 3-1 game. Spiering provided the set up once again, on the right-wing side, and senior forward Maddie Bishop notched her second goal of the weekend, her 10^th score of the season.

Franklin Pierce would get one back on a third-period power play, but that would be it. Freshman forward Ava Kison (Eau Claire, Wis.) had the initial shot on the play from the left circle, which sparked a scramble for the puck outside the left post. Fellow freshman forward Katelyn Brightbill (Annville, Pa.) got her stick to the puck first and knocked it out front for sophomore defenseman Kiki Doucette (Bridgewater, Mass.), who was playing up front on the man-advantage and put away her second goal of the year at 4:42.

Franklin Pierce would later get the goaltender to the bench for the extra attacker for the final 93 seconds, but was unable to generate a shot in the closing moments in the last-ditch effort to tie the game.

Sophomore goaltender Emme Ostrander (Westborough, Mass.) finished with 29 saves against 32 shots and suffered the loss (13-9-0) in the Franklin Pierce net. Sophomore netminder Frankie Sanchez (15-10-0) turned aside 26 of 28 shots to pick up the win for Sacred Heart.

The Ravens return to the ice on Tuesday, Feb. 4, when they return home to host Anna Maria in a non-conference contest. Opening faceoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena in Winchendon, Mass.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (https://www.fpuravens.com). 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 ice hockey apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' brand new online store (https://www.shopfpuravens.com).