Game Recaps
Jacks Finish Season with a Bang. Win 8-5 Over Chicago
MUSKEGON, MI - Everyone wants to end their season with a win, and Muskegon did just that by picking up an 8-5 win over the visiting Chicago Steel. Thomas Kiesewetter played phenomenal on one end while the offense provided goal support on the other for the winning effort.
With the win Muskegon ends the season with a final record of 27-31-3 while the Steel head to the postseason in 1st place of the Eastern Conference with a 39-18-4-1 record.
Similar to last night the Steel took a 2–0 lead into the first intermission. Thomas Kiesewetter made a save on a Chicago opportunity, but the rebound trickled through the Jacks defense and to the stick of Brady Arneson who deposited it to the back of the net for the lead at the 9:28 mark.
Later in the period while killing a penalty the Steel scored again to make it a 2-0 game 7 minutes until the intermission. Quinn Finley found the puck at the near side of his own blue line and turned on the jets to beat the lone Muskegon defenseman and earn a breakaway. Working left to right across the crease, Finley out waited Kiesewetter and backhanded the puck to the top of the net.
Trailing by a pair of goals at the start of the period the Lumberjacks struck twice to tie the game. Easton Young scored 2:46 into the frame after receiving a pass from Cody Croal on the near side wall of the Chicago zone. Young caught the pass and fired a shot past Jack Stark for his second goal of the weekend.
Just 20 seconds later at the 3:25 mark Muskegon added another goal. Jack Galanek centered the puck from the far side corner for Justin Solovey to redirect on net. Stark made a save, but Michael Callow followed up from behind to force the puck into the back of the net for his 20th goal of the season.
Finley scored his second goal of the game to regain the Chicago lead, but the Jacks responded with a pair of goals to re-tie then give the Jacks their first lead of the game. Croal carried the puck up the near side and cut down below the circle in the Chicago zone before firing a pass backdoor for Matvie Gridin to tap home.
Nicholas Rexine scored by leading the rush into the offensive zone and shooting through a screen to beat Stark at the 13:15 mark of the second period giving Muskegon a 4-3 lead. Tying the game back up Finley scored his third of the contest with another backhand to beat Kiesewetter bringing the score back to even ahead of the third and final period of regulation.
Looking to end the season off on a good note the Lumberjacks came out on fire to start the third period with three straight goals. Just 24 seconds into the frame while on the Powerplay George Fegaris carried the puck down the near side wall of the Chicago zone and fired a shot past Stark for his 4th goal of the season.
At the 5:39 mark Ethan Whitcomb gave the puck to Ethan Fredericks behind the net. The future Northeastern Husky walked outfront and slid a shot onto Stark that was stopped, but he found his own rebound under the netminder and forced it into the back of the net.
Then, at the 10:07 point of the period Callow added his second goal of the game, 21st of the season by carrying the puck down the slot and sending a shot under the far side arm of Stark.
Chicago got one back while on the powerplay, but putting the icing on the cake Fredericks found the back of an empty net to make it 8-5, the eventual final score.
Kiesewetter (1-0-0) earned his first career USHL win by stopping 35 of the 40 shots fired his way by Chicago including a handful of breakaway opportunities for the Steel. Stark (17-6-2) earned the loss making 22 saves on 29 shots sent his way by Muskegon.
DeYoung Stops 19, Gens Win 7th Straight with 2-0 Decision over Philly
Sewell, NJ (October 8, 2022) – After picking up a win on Friday night The Generals took the ice at Hollydell Ice Arena to close out a weekend series with NAHL East Division opponent the Philadelphia Rebels. Cullen DeYoung was perfect in between the pipes earning a shutout in the 2-0 win.
With the win Northeast extends their win streak to 7 games and improves their record to 8-5. Philly meanwhile drops both games of the weekend series and falls to 3-6 this season.
After a scoreless first period the Generals opened the scoring 7:02 into the middle stanza. Jared Scott and Andrew DellaDonna forced a turnover at their own blueline and worked up the ice alone on a 2-on-0. Scott carried the puck into the Rebel’s zone and down to the hash marks before feeding DellaDonna on the other side for an easy scoring chance.
Only one other goal was needed for the generals to pick up the win. An empty netter for Dave Andreychuk with 38 seconds remaining in the game. The 5th of the season for the St. Lawrence commit.
DeYoung (5-3) stopped all 19 Rebel shots on the way to the shutout win. Jakub Krbecek (3-3) meanwhile stopped 23 of 24 shots in the losing effort.
Next up for the Generals is a home matchup against the reigning Robertson Cup Champion New Jersey Titans on October 14th. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Village.
Catch all the action all season long on HockeyTV and follow the Generals on social media @negenerals for game updates and more!
Softball Splits Doubleheader at Saint Michael’s to Take Weekend Series
COLCHESTER, Vt. (March 21, 2021) - For the second time in two days, the Franklin Pierce University softball team took on the Purple Knights of Saint Michael's in a doubleheader. Cyrena Zemaitis (Goshen, Conn.) shined for the second day in a row, as she earned the win in the second game with 10 strikeouts and one earned run while throwing the final five innings. The 3-1 win in the second game allowed the Ravens to take three out of four games in the weekend series, after Saint Michael's opened the day with a 4-3 victory.
With the split, the Ravens move to 3-1 on the young season, while the Purple Knights move to 1-3. Franklin Pierce will be back in action on Wednesday, March 24, for a non-conference doubleheader at Southern Connecticut State at 3 p.m.
Game 1: Saint Michael's 4, Franklin Pierce 3
The Ravens started strong in the top of the first inning, as they brought leadoff batter Maiah Lopez (Oxnard, Calif.) around to score on a Susannah Campos (Lemoore, Calif.) single to right field.
The lead would not last long, as the Purple Knights' bats woke up early as well, with two runs in the bottom of the first. Grace Trautman crossed home plate on a single from Hannah Arruda. Arruda followed her home in the next at bat, on a double down the third-base line off the bat of Hope Hiscock.
The pitching staffs dominated the middle innings, before the Ravens reclaimed the lead in the top of the fifth.
With two on and one out, Madi Killebrew (Dana Point, Calif.) sent a double to center field, which plated Melissa Konopinski (Butler, N.J.) from second and pushed Jess Rego (Richmond, R.I.) from first to third. Rego then crossed the plate thanks to Gina Hinckley (Lancaster, Mass.), who hit a sacrifice fly to center field to give the Ravens the lead.
Once again, the lead would not stick, as Saint Michael's found a way to get two more runs across in the bottom of the sixth, which ultimately won the game. Jenna Hoops got a single through the left side, which scored Courtney Norton. Trautman followed and squeaked a ball into center field for a two-out single, which drove in Brandenburg with the go-ahead run.
Abbey Primavera (Spring Hill, Fla.) started on the mound for the Ravens, worked three innings, and gave up two runs on four hits. Sabrina Gonzalez (Chandler, Ariz.) took the loss (0-1) out of the bullpen with three innings of work and two earned runs against her.
Jackie Cherry took over in the second and picked up the win (1-1) after throwing the final 5.1 innings for Saint Michael's. She allowed two runs on three hits, walked one and struck out one.
Game 2: Franklin Pierce 3, Saint Michael's 1
The Ravens started the second game in the same fashion as the first, with Lopez leading off and finding her way across home plate. This time, she walked, moved all the way to third on a Rego sacrifice bunt and scored on a Killebrew groundout to short. Unlike the first game, the Ravens would hold the lead throughout.
Franklin Pierce would bring another run across the board in the third inning to extend the lead to 2-0. Killebrew led off the inning with a walk and later stole second base. She then advanced to third on an Ashley Cangiano (North Attleboro, Mass.) groundout and scored on a Campos single to left.
Trautman would bat Brandenburg home in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit to 2-1, but it would not be enough, as the Ravens added an insurance run in the top of the sixth. Ari Rodriguez (Clinton, Mass.) reached base on an error, stole second, and then scored thanks to Rego and a single to right field.
Amelia Mamone (Averill Park, N.Y.) started for Franklin Pierce and threw two scoreless innings with a strikeout before ceding the circle to Zemaitis. The latter picked up right where she left off on Saturday, as she piled up 10 more strikeouts while firing five innings of one-run, three-hit ball to pick up the win (2-0).
Cherry started and suffered the loss (1-2) for Saint Michael's after 5.1 innings of work. She allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits, walked two and struck out one.
Men’s Ice Hockey drops First of Two at UNE, 6-4
BIDDEFORD, Maine (March 13, 2021) – The Franklin Pierce University men's ice hockey team travelled north on Saturday to take on the University of New England Nor'easters in the first of a two-game weekend set. UNE was propelled to a 6-4 win on the backs of juniors Brent Hill and Alexander Vukota, who each produced three-point performances. Senior defender Paul Antkowiak (Salem, N.H.) provided a goal and two assists in defeat for the Ravens at Alfond Forum.
With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 1-4-0, while UNE improves to 3-0-0. The two teams will meet again on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Alfond Forum. Sunday's contest will wrap up the Ravens' abbreviated season.
The two teams both put home multiple goals in the first period. The Ravens struck first, 5:36 into the first period, on a goal from freshman forward Bryce Chaput (Lancaster, Mass.). His third of the season came on assists from sophomore forward Jason Ladzinski (Norcross, Ga.) and Antkowiak.
Just over a minute later, at 6:54, the Nor'easters put their first goal in the back of the net. Junior forward Liam Darcy scored his second of the season off an assist from Vukota.
Franklin Pierce regained the lead thanks to Antowiak's first of the season just 58 seconds later. Junior forwards Chris Stevenson (Arvada, Colo.) and Ryan Gorbett (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) picked up the helpers.
The Nor'easters would score the next two goals to take a 3-2 lead into the first intermission. Both came from the stick of Hill, who struck at 12:56 to tie the game, and again on the power play at 16:22.
The second period did not see as many goals as the first, but it did not take long for UNE to extend its lead. Just 1:58 into the middle period, the Nor'easters made it 4-2 with a quick strike from Aaron Aragon, who had help from teammates Austin Morgan and Jake Fuss. UNE would later score a fourth straight goal, at 12:17, when Alden Weller picked up the first goal of his senior season.
Franklin Pierce would not go away easy, as the Ravens struck on either side of the second intermission to trim the lead to 5-4. With seven seconds remaining in the second, Antkowiak picked up his second assist of the day, as he and freshman Steven Wesley (Stoneham, Mass.) worked together to set up sophomore defenseman Josh Kippenhan (Hibbing, Minn.) for his first goal as a Raven, which was a shorthanded tally.
After the second intermission the Ravens got off to a hot start in the third, with a goal from Vito Carlo (Las Vegas, Nev.). Carlo's first career goal was assisted by Stevenson, and brought Franklin Pierce to within one, just 30 seconds into the final frame.
The Ravens were never able to find the tying marker though. UNE would score once more, on the power play at 11:08, to create the 6-4 final. Vokuta picked up his third point of the night with help from Hill and Justin Dixson.
Senior goaltender Ian Wallace (West Islip, N.Y.) manned the crease for the Ravens and made 34 saves on 40 shots in the loss (0-2-0). Aiden Hosein (1-0-0) earned his first career win for UNE after making nine saves on 12 shots through two periods of work. Peter Ciccarelli stopped seven of eight shots in the third for the Nor'easters.
Women’s Tennis Wins Sixth Straight, Blanks Saint Michael’s, 7-0
COLCHESTER, Vt. (April 7, 2021) – As the calendar turned to April, the Franklin Pierce University women's tennis team carried their strong start into the final month of the regular season on Wednesday afternoon. This time out, the Ravens hit the road to take on the Saint Michael's Purple Knights and earned a 7-0 win in Northeast-10 Conference play. Three Ravens recorded clean sweeps in their singles matches and the team surrendered just five games across seven matches on the day.
With the win, Franklin Pierce improved to 6-0 (6-0 NE10), while Saint Michael's fell to 0-3 (0-3 NE10).
Things started with the Ravens taking a pair of doubles matches. Freshman Maria Penalver Aguilo (Las Palmas, Spain) and sophomore Laura Alvarez Tello (Vigo, Spain) opened the day with a 6-2 win at first singles against Abbey Edelman and Mary Leys. Second singles saw Freshman Zoe Asterio Correa (Toronto, Ontario) and graduate student Estela Carra (Logrono, Spain) pick up a 6-1 win over Zoe Rogers and Jenny Panergo.
The singles matches went well for the Ravens too, as Aguilo and graduate student Himani Mor (Sonipat, India) each blanked their opponents, Edelmann and Leys, at first and second singles, respectively, by 6-0, 6-0 scores. Alvarez Tello and Asterio Correa followed in the third and fourth spots and both dropped only a single game apiece. Alvarez Tello took care of Rogers, 6-1, 6-0, while Asterio Correa dusted Panergo, 6-0, 6-1.
At fifth singles, sophomore Jillian Pagliuca (Taunton, Mass.) shutout Sarah Knickerbocker, 6-0, 6-0.
The Ravens are scheduled to return to action at home against Southern New Hampshire on Wednesday, April 14, at 2:30 p.m.
Field Hockey Locks up Postseason Berth with 4-2 win Over Pace on Senior Day
RINDGE, N.H. (October 26, 2019) – For the first time since 2011, the Franklin Pierce University field hockey team is headed to the postseason, as the Ravens locked up their fifth all-time bid in the Northeast-10 Conference Championship with a 4-2, Senior Day win over Pace on Saturday afternoon. Appropriately, senior forward Madison Gagnon (Milford, N.H.) highlighted the victory, as she tallied her first career hat trick to lead the way for the Ravens at Sodexo Field.
With the win, the Ravens move to an 8-8 (7-5 NE10) record on the year, while the Setters fall to a 4-11 (4-9 NE10) record. Franklin Pierce currently sits as the sixth seed in the league, and the top eight finishers will qualify for the NE10 Championship. Five teams remain alive for the final two spots.
All seven of the Ravens' seniors started the game, including the first collegiate start for senior goalkeeper Katelyn Benoit (Goffstown, N.H.). Benoit made one save over the opening 5:13 before departing and would ultimately chalk up the first win (1-0) of her career.
It did not take long for the Ravens to open the scoring, as Gagnon found herself on a breakaway against Pace sophomore goalkeeper Grace Henderson, who made the first save on Gagnon, but was unable to stop the rebound attempt. The Ravens took a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute, on Gagnon's third goal of the season.
Later, in the 18th minute, the Ravens doubled their lead with a goal from sophomore back Julianne Sacco (Southborough, Mass.), who was assisted by senior forward Jessica Greeley (Winslow, Maine). The goal came off a penalty-corner opportunity. Sacco found Greeley on the edge of the scoring circle, and the latter returned to ball to Sacco, who cashed in her team-leading seventh goal of the campaign.
Gagnon struck again near the end of the second quarter, in the 29th minute, with a shot from the right side of the circle. Henderson was able to catch a piece of the shot, but the ball trickled through and into the far corner of the net for Gagnon's second goal of the game, which marked her first career multiple-goal game and extended the Ravens' lead to 3-0.
The Setters would score the next two goals of the game to cut the gap to 3-2. Freshmen Jessica Wolfe (36th minute) and Hannah Wyllie (47th minute) would be the Setters goal scorers, as the former picked up her fourth goal of the season and the latter notched her third. Freshman forward Cienna Bosher assisted on Wolfe's goal, while Wolfe in-turn provided the helper for Wyllie.
The Ravens would end up prevailing as Gagnon added the icing in the cake with her third goal of the day in the 59th minute. The assist came from freshman forward Christine Jarowicz (Kennebunk, Maine), who has four points (1-2-4) in the last four games.
Junior goaltender Olivia Barnes (Greenwich, N.Y.) took over for Benoit and went the rest of the way, but did not make a save while allowing two goals over the final 54:47.
Henderson (4-11) finished with two saves against six shots on goal in front of the Pace cage.
The Ravens will be back in action on Tuesday, Oct. 29, as they take on Saint Anselm College on Sodexo field at 4 p.m.