COLCHESTER, Vt. (November 19, 2021) -- A penalty-riddled third period saw a one-goal deficit get away from the Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team, which suffered a 5-2 defeat on the road in a Northeast-10 Conference matchup at Saint Michael's College on Friday night. Senior forward Ryan Gorbett (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) put home both of Franklin Pierce's goals at Cairns Arena.

Franklin Pierce falls to 0-6-0 (0-4-0 NE10), while Saint Michael's opens its season at 1-0-0 (1-0-0 NE10).

The first period saw the Purple Knights take a 3-1 lead on the strength of three goals in a span of just 3:12. The first came from senior Cameron Stewart at the 10:05 mark, as he received a pass up the boards from fellow senior Thomas Flack in the corner. Stewart walked from the blue line down to the faceoff circle and then across the frame of the goal before sliding the puck past the outstretched pad of Franklin Pierce senior goaltender Kyle Martin (Westford, Mass.).

The second and third goals came just 28 seconds apart, at 12:49 and 13:17, respectively. First, senior Brandon Mitchell carried the puck into the Ravens' zone while on a 2-on-2 rush with freshman Case Kantgias. Mitchell put a pass into the slot for Kantgias to redirect past Martin and into the back of the net. After the ensuing faceoff, senior Sal Narby and the Purple Knights worked the puck deep into the Franklin Pierce end. Senior Matt Egan found the puck in a scrum around the left circle and threw it towards the net. Freshman Jack MacDonald was there to make it a 3-0 lead for Saint Michael's.

The Ravens got one back on the power play with just over two minutes to play in the period. Junior Tyler Rudek (Woonsocket, R.I.) took a shot from the top of the left circle. Saint Michael's sophomore netminder Marshall Murphy made the save, but left a rebound on the far side of the net, where Gorbett was waiting to shoot the puck into the open net.

The second period proved more successful for Franklin Pierce, as Gorbett scored his second of the game, and the only goal of the frame, at 5:42. Junior Dom Norris (Thurmont, Md.) held the puck below the goal line and found Gorbett with some open ice in the slot. Gorbett one-timed the pass into the top-right corner, beating Murphy over the glove hand.

The Ravens found themselves in penalty trouble in the third period, and started the final stanza down a man. Franklin Pierce killed off the initial penalty, but later faced an extended 5-on-3, which allowed Saint Michael's to extend the lead. Junior Sam Johnson held the puck in at the blue line, stickhandled into the slot and took a shot which deflected home off the defense at 12:16. An empty-net goal from junior Connor Redden capped the proceedings at 17:44.

Martin (0-2-0) made 22 saves on 26 shots in front of the Franklin Pierce net. Murphy (0-1-0) was on the other side of the ice and finished with 25 saves against 27 shots for Saint Michael's.

The Ravens are back on the road on Saturday, when they travel to Fitchburg State for a non-conference game at 6 p.m. at Wallace Civic Center in Fitchburg, Mass.