ERIE, Pa. (October 9, 2021) -- In a game which could not have looked much different than its Friday-night counterpart, the Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team held its own on Saturday afternoon, in the back end of a two-game weekend series at Mercyhurst. Though the Ravens were still outshot by a 42-14 margin, they were able to generate offensive pressure at times throughout the game and did a much better job of limiting damage in their own end as well. Graduate student Kristy Pidgeon provided the only goal of the game late in the first period, as Mercyhurst completed the weekend sweep with a 1-0 win in the non-conference affair at Mercyhurst Ice Center.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 0-2-0, while Mercyhurst improves to 5-2-0. The two-game set marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Through Franklin Pierce was outshot 10-4, Saturday afternoon's first period featured much more back-and-forth action than its Friday-night counterpart, aided in part by a pair of power plays for the Ravens, though they were unable to cash in. The crimson and grey also killed a penalty of their own in the middle of the frame, for good measure.

Mercyhurst had the lone tally of the opening 20 minutes, which would ultimately stand as the only goal of the game. Senior Emily Pinto carried the puck all the way down the right-wing side and flipped a pass out front as she headed behind the net. Pidgeon was on the scene at the right post and needed a couple tries, but eventually finished off her third goal of the weekend, and fifth of the season, at 17:16.

Franklin Pierce was able to generate a pair of power-play opportunities in the second period as well, but once again could not get one to go. The Ravens killed off the third period's only penalty, as the final frame went scoreless too, and Mercyhurst skated away with the 1-0 win.

Named as the game's second star, sophomore Suzette Faucher (Middleton, Wis.) was strong in her second collegiate start, as she finished with 41 saves against 42 shots, but was stuck with the loss (0-1-0) anyway. Junior Jenna Silvonen (3-1-0) stopped all 14 shots she faced to post her second shutout of the season.

The Ravens are back on the ice with more non-conference action, as they meet Hockey East member Holy Cross for a home-and-home series on Oct. 15-16. The two teams will play at Holy Cross at 6 p.m. on Friday, and at Franklin Pierce at 3 p.m. on Saturday.