SHELTON, Conn. – As Post University Women's Ice Hockey marched on in their five-game homestand, the Eagles looked to take flight in their first of two games against conference opponent Franklin Pierce University at the Sports Center of Connecticut on Friday night. But a three-point day from senior forward Jenna Ruiz as part of a three-goal second period for the Ravens would prove to be too much for the Eagles to overcome as they dropped their third consecutive game, 3-1, against Franklin Pierce.

THE BASICS

Post University 1, Franklin Pierce University 3

Post University (6-21-0, 6-15-0 NEWHA)

Franklin Pierce University (12-12-0, 11-10-0 NEWHA)

HOW IT HAPPENED  
Both sides would have their scoring opportunities through the opening 20 minutes as a near-even first period saw Franklin Pierce take more shots overall, 19-17, but Post put more on net by a slim 14-13 margin. The numbers were so close that the Ravens held just a single faceoff win advantage over the Eagles as well as had three power-play opportunities to Post's two. However, senior goalie Grace Glasrud and her opposition in sophomore goalie Olivia Klunowski corralled all shots that they faced to send the game into the second without a score.
 
As the second period wore on, it would be the Ravens who pushed the pace on the Eagles, leading to two goals that came within just over 3 ½ minutes of each other. The first would come on a power-play opportunity for Franklin Pierce and see Ruiz and junior defenseman Julia Stevens set up sophomore forward Anna Caumo for the score from the point that beat Glasrud into the top right corner.
 
Ruiz would be the beneficiary of the second Raven goal when senior defenseman Delaney Bonafacio's shot was tipped in front to sophomore forward Sydnee Wilson and across the goal mouth to the forward on the left side of the goal mouth. Sophomore defenseman Maggie Korneta rounded out the three-goal middle frame for Franklin Pierce when she was set up by Caumo and Ruiz on a failed centering pass that turned into a right-side chance for her. In all, Franklin Pierce would dominate the shots on goal, 21-5, while converting on both power-play attempts to open up a 3-0 lead heading into the third.
 
Netting her fifth goal of the season to tie junior forward Julia Wysocki for the team-lead, sophomore forward Tristan Currie picked up junior defenseman Caisey Van Den Oetelaar's redirected shot and placed it behind Klunowski with 14:10 remaining in regulation to keep the Eagles' comeback hopes alive. With 8:24 left, Post would go on a 5-on-3 power-play with a chance to cut their deficit down to one. But all four shots by the Eagles would be either stopped by Klunowski or blocked down by the defense to keep Franklin Pierce ahead 3-1.
 
Only 1:15 after both power-plays expired, Post would be gifted another man-up advantage following another Franklin Pierce penalty. The Eagles were held to just one shot and would be unable to solve Klunowski the rest of the way, en route to a 3-1 home defeat.

BY THE NUMBERS 

• Grace Glasrud made 43 stops on 46 total attempts while Olivia Klunowski made 28 saves on 29 shots by Post
• The Post University power-play was 0-for-5 in the game while Franklin Pierce went 2-for-5 on their power-play attempts  
• This is the first time this season in which Post has lost a game in which Tristan Currie has scored in – The Eagles are now 3-1-0 this year when Currie scores
• Post University has lost four straight games against Franklin Pierce University and are now 2-25-0 against the Ravens in the all-time series

WHO'S NEXT
Post University's final regular season matchup with Franklin Pierce will come tomorrow afternoon at the Upper Rink of the Sports Center of Connecticut in Shelton, Connecticut at 2:15 PM.