Auburn, MA --- Franklin Pierce freshman Bryan Colella (Medfield, MA) scored two goals and sophomore Adam Dallaire (Waltham, MA) tallied the game-winning goal on a power play as the Ravens defeated Worcester State, 3-2, this evening in non conference ice hockey action at Horgan Rink.
The two squads battled in a back and forth affair in the first as the Lancers clung to a 16-15 edge in shots at the end of the period. Worcester State snapped a scoreless game with 58 seconds left when junior Nick Asterito (Philadelphia, PA) recorded the marker on some help from freshman Brendan Galley (Colorado Springs, CO) and senior Chris Wallin (Avon, CT).
Franklin Pierce, however, would answer right back as they gained possession of the puck off the last faceoff of the stanza as Collela netted the equalizer with three ticks remaining. Collela received the puck from sophomore Rosoe Sweeney (Falmouth, MA) and junior Kevin Quinn (West Linn, OR).
The visitors went up 2-1 early on in the second as Collela registered an unassisted tally at 2:41 and then they took the lead for good on Dallaire's goal. Franklin Pierce took advantage of the extra man edge as they were 1-for-3 for the contest.
Worcester State made the game interesting when sophomore Tim D'Orazio (Jamieson, PA) tacked on a goal with 32 seconds left in the middle frame as Asterito and Wallin each added points on the play.
The third would see no scoring, but junior Bryan Kalcynski (Tonawanda, NY) was sensational for the Lancers as he kept them in the contest and stopped all 15 shots he saw between the pipes. Kalcynski would finish the game with 45 saves.
The Lancers also pulled their goalie for an extra skater on the ice, but it was not enough as Franklin Pierce earned their first win of the season to improve their record to 1-6.
First-year goalie Dave O'Brien (Groton, MA) played well in the start as he collected 29 saves in the triumph.
The Ravens outshot the visitors 48-34 while WSU was 1-for-4 with the power play as they scored on Asterito's goal at the end of the first. Asterito now leads the squad with one goal and four assists for four points while Collela jumps into the lead in goals for FPU with three.
Both teams will play league opponents on the road on Saturday. Worcester State opens MASCAC action when they play Framingham State at 7:30 while Franklin Pierce heads to Stonehill for a 2 PM contest.