Recap by student-staff writer Colin Struckman 

EAST MEADOW, N.Y. (3/2/2024) – The Franklin Pierce University women's ice hockey team delivered a major upset Saturday evening in a 4-3 overtime victory over the NEWHA number one ranked Long Island University Sharks which punched their ticket to the conference championship on March 9^th. The Ravens were just one of two teams to beat LIU in the regular season and entered the game as a heavy underdog with the fifth seed in the NEWHA tournament.

Score: Franklin Pierce 4, LIU 3 (OT) 
Records: Franklin Pierce (18-15-1, 14-13-1 NEWHA), LIU (28-9-0, 26-2-0 NEWHA) 
Location: East Meadow, N.Y. (Northwell Health Ice Center) 
Date: Saturday, March 2^nd, 2024 

HOW IT HAPPENED:  

• The Sharks drew first blood with 7:38 remaining in the 1^st period. Ryane Kearnes was streaking along the right wing and ripped a shot from the top of the circle to give the Sharks the 1-0 lead.  
• The Ravens wasted no time responding, netting the equalizer just 21 seconds later. Grace Schuck (Bloomington, Minn.) picked up a Sharks turnover and sniped a shot over the right shoulder of Tindra Holm, tying the score 1-1.  
• The Sharks had the final say to end the 1^st period. Anya Weilandt fed a pass in stride to Ashley Morrow, who dangled around the Ravens defense and roofed it past Jill Hertl (Highland Park, Ill.) for the 2-1 lead.  
• The Sharks extended their lead in the 2^nd period with 7:25 to go. Mikayla Lantto drove right to the net on a 2-on-1, faking a pass and tucking it in the open cage for the 3-1 lead.  
• Late in the third and down 3-1, the Ravens pulled their keeper and the offense exploded with back-to-back goals. Schuck added her 2^nd goal of the night after a shot from the blue line by Courtney Swenson (Bolingbrook, Ill.) went off the body of Lauren Maras (Alexandria, Minn.), then Schuck cleaned up the loose change and fired it above Holm's blocker, making it a 3-2 Sharks lead with 2:09 left in regulation.
• Grace Schuck came up clutch again for the Ravens just 33 seconds later, netting her first career hat trick. Julia Stevens (Minneapolis, Minn.) threw a puck toward the goal that was deflected by Anna Caumo (Brunico, Italy). Grace Schuck was parked in front of the net and batted in the rebound, which forced the Ravens and Sharks into overtime.
• In the third minute of overtime, Jenna Ruiz (Webster, Wis.) pushed into the offensive zone and dropped a pass for Claire Casey, who fired an off angle shot and snatched the rebound. Shoving, pushing and whacking broke out at the left post, but the puck trickled by LIU's goalie which ignited cheers from Raven players and fans alike.  

BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS: 

• The Sharks outshot the Ravens 37-33.  
• The Ravens went 35-62 on face-offs. The Sharks went 27-62 on face-offs. 
• Neither team scored on the power play, going a combined 0-for-6. 
• Jill Hertl picked up the win (14-10-1) stopping 34-of-37 shots she faced. Tindra Holm (23-9-0) suffered the loss, stopping 29-of-33 shots she faced. 

NEXT FOR THE RAVENS: 

• The Ravens will play in their 2^nd NEWHA championship in the last 3 years on Saturday on the road against the Stonehill Skyhawks. Puck drop is TBD at the Bridgewater Ice Arena.