Sophomore scores three times, adds assist

BIDDEFORD, Maine (February 8, 2011) – Sophomore forward Roscoe Sweeney (Falmouth, Mass.) scored three times to record the second hat trick of his career and added an assist to total four points on Tuesday night, but the Franklin Pierce University ice hockey team was defeated, 6-4, by University of new England in non-conference play at Biddeford Ice Arena. Sophomore forward Paul Kashmanian scored twice for UNE in the victory.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 5-17-0 (4-4-0 Northeast-10), while University of New England improves to 4-16-0 (1-14-0 ECAC East).

The scoring came fast and furious in the first period, as the two teams combined to find the back of the net five times. Kashmanian opened the scoring 3:25 into the contest with his second of the season on an assist from junior defenseman Kyle McLennan. Sweeney answered with his team-leading 12th of the season for Franklin Pierce just 28 seconds later, while sophomore defenseman Tyler Cornele (Cape Coral, Fla.) chipped in the assist. Sweeney's second of the night came at 10:26, with an assist from senior forward Sean Woodring (Rogue River, Ore.), to give the Ravens a brief, 2-1 lead.

From there, UNE would pick up the final two goals of the period to take a 3-2 lead into the first intermission, a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the way. Junior forward Mike Tiano struck for his fourth of the season at 13:28, when he cashed in a feed from sophomore forward Tyler Fleurent. Later, at 18:26, MacLennan sent the puck to junior forward Ted Fabian, who knocked home his fourth of the season.

Fleurent added his eighth goal of the season at the 11:01 mark of the second period to give the Nor'easters a two-goal lead, while freshman forward Zach Lokey and sophomore forward Adam Laite added the assists. The Ravens answered with a power-play goal at 17:41 to make it a one-goal game heading into the third period. Junior forward Bill Sullivan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) notched his second of the season off assists from Sweeney and sophomore defenseman Matt Lopes (Auburn, N.H.).

UNE headed into the third looking for an insurance goal and found it just 2:56 into the period, when Kashmanian put home his second of the night, which served as the eventual game-winning goal. Sophomore forward Brent Bourgeois provided the lone assist.

Sweeney pulled the Ravens within a goal at 5-4 by completing the hat trick with an unassisted marker on a 5-on-3 advantage with 1:31 to play. Franklin Pierce remained on the power play and pulled the goaltender in favor of the extra attacker to try to find the tying goal. However, UNE sophomore forward Scott McManaman put a shorthanded goal into the empty net at 19:09 to put the game on ice.

Freshman goaltender Dave O'Brien (Groton, Mass.) made 48 saves, but was saddled with the loss (5-5-0) in net for Franklin Pierce. Freshman Connor Brogan made 19 saves to pick up the win (2-2-0) between the pipes for University of New England.

University of New England posted a 54-23 advantage in shots on goal on the night and went 0-for-4 on the power play. Franklin Pierce finished 2-for-6 with the man-advantage.

The Ravens return to the ice on Saturday, Feb. 12, when they return home to host Assumption in a Northeast-10 Conference contest. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena in Winchendon, Mass. Prior to the game, Franklin Pierce will honor the accomplishments of its senior class. The game is also a part of Franklin Pierce's Breast Cancer Awareness Day, which also features basketball games at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. at the Fieldhouse in Rindge, N.H.

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).