SHELTON, Conn. – Four goals in five minutes between Post University Women's Ice Hockey and Franklin Pierce University in the home opener for the Eagles at the Sports Center of Connecticut highlighted a five-goal second period which would make up all the scoring for both sides with the Ravens coming out on top 3-2 despite Post having nearly double the shots on goal on Friday.

THE BASICS

Post University 2, Franklin Pierce University 3

Post University (1-6-0, 1-2-0 NEWHA)

Franklin Pierce University (3-2-0, 3-0-0 NEWHA)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Junior goalies Hannah Saunders and Jill Hertl battled it out in the opening period with neither side letting in a goal. But for the majority of that first frame, it was Post manufacturing the shot opportunities with a whopping 17 shots against Hertl while Saunders needed to stop just six. It would not be until senior forward Julia Wysocki forced a turnover just over five minutes into the second period in which the Eagles would get on the scoreboard with her unassisted goal, the third of the season and second in as many games.

As the period wound on, penalties would get the Eagles into some trouble resulting in two goals for the Ravens to help them take the lead. Right after sophomore forward Celena Mickevicius saw her penalty come to a close, sophomore defenseman Ashley Wright would tip a shot passed Saunders after getting the feed in from freshman forward Brynn Levinson to tie the game.

Following another Post penalty to senior defenseman Caisey Van Den Oetelaar, Franklin Pierce would capitalize to take the lead with sophomore defenseman Jenna Sharland's goal, but that lead would be short-lived. Only 12 seconds later, the Eagles responded with a game-tying goal as sophomore forward Tymmarie Grom found sophomore defenseman Brooke Larsen at the point. Larsen's shot towards Hertl would be redirected by junior forward Maddy Noonan and into the back of the net, tying things back up at two all.

With the period winding down, sophomore forward Emma Laroche would net what would prove to be the difference-making goal with the help of senior forward Mikayla Kelley with only 21 seconds to go. As was the case with the first period, Post would have their chances to the tune of 15 shots against Hertl while the Ravens only managed five against Saunders, but the juniors both turned away everything they faced to keep the score at 3-2.

With 1:20 left in regulation, a two-minute penalty issued to junior forward Anna Caumo gave Post a 6-on-4 advantage with Saunders pulled from the net. In that final stretch, the Eagles would fire five times on Hertl and be turned away from some promising opportunities, falling for the fourth straight game, 3-2, at the hands of the Ravens.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Julia Wysocki now leads the team with three goals this season and has scored in back-to-back games for the first time since the end of the 2022-23 season when she did so against Stonehill College
• Jill Hertl moved to 3-1 in net this season for Franklin Pierce University, making 38 saves on 40 total shots by Post University
• Allowing just 21 shots on goal in the game, that was a season-low for Post University this season as Hannah Saunders made 18 saves
• Post University has now allowed a power-play goal in each of their last four games dating back to their 1-0 loss to Saint Michael's on the road on October 12^th

WHO'S NEXT
Post University finishes their home-and-home series against Franklin Pierce University tomorrow evening at 7:00 PM. The Eagles are 1-12-0 all-time against the Ravens on the road with that one win coming on December 2^nd, 2022 by a 2-1 final score.