WINCHENDON, Mass. - The Saint Michael's College women's ice hockey team fell 3-2 against second-place Franklin Pierce University on Friday during Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) East play at The Winchendon School's Ritchie Ice Arena. The Purple Knights are now 2-11 overall and 1-6 in the league, and the Ravens improved to 12-2-1 and 6-1. Both of the teams' meetings this year have been decided by one goal, accounting for half of Franklin Pierce's four contests that were decided by one goal or less.

In the second of a three-game season series, first-year Jillian Witwicki (Danvers, Mass./Pingree School) had both Purple Knight strikes, and sophomore Carolyn Avery (Lexington, Mass./Lexington) assisted each. Classmate Tina Frasca (Norwood, Mass./Tabor Academy) stopped 24 shots, as four of her team's five all-time meetings with the Ravens have now been decided by one goal. Senior Fernanda Saavedra (Miami, Fla./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) won 11 face-offs, and junior Kaly Spilhaus (Bourne, Mass./Groton School) was successful on four of her eight draws. Saint Michael's scored twice on a team that entered the game second in all of Division II/III in scoring defense (1.21), and did not allow Franklin Pierce to reach its season average of 3.57 goals scored, which was ninth in the nation.

Sophomore Marisa Ketterman (Palmer, Alaska/Gilmour Academy) scored twice for the hosts, and classmate Alysha Raimo (Fitchburg, Mass./Plymouth State) tacked on the third. First-year Alex Brolsma (Bloomington, Minn./Minnesota Blades) handed out two assists, and sophomore Noelle White (Corona, Calif./Colorado Tigers) recorded 18 stops.

Witwicki got the Purple Knights on the board just 4:50 into the contest. After a Franklin Pierce turnover in the attacking zone, Avery sent Witwicki on a breakaway and the rookie found the upper right corner to make it 1-0. The lead held up until the final five minutes of the period, during which Ketterman scored twice in a 2:46 span, with Ketterman's snap shot from the slot knotting the contest at 15:25. Brolsma later sent a pass into the slot for Ketterman, who backhanded a shot inside the left post while falling down at 18:11, putting her team in front for good.

After being outshot 12-5 during the opening period, Saint Michael's matched Franklin Pierce with 15 shots apiece over the final two combined, including holding a 7-6 edge in the second frame. However, the Ravens tallied the lone marker in the middle 20 minutes, with Raimo scoring from the edge of the right circle inside the right post at 14:05.

In the third period, Frasca stopped a penalty shot with 10:18 gone to keep her team within striking distance, and Avery again connected with Witwicki. Following a rush down the left side, Witwicki's backhander inside the left post from the bottom of the circle edged her squad within 3-2 at 15:59. That shot also proved to be the game's final shot on goal.

The Purple Knights turn around to host the University of Massachusetts at Boston tomorrow at 4 p.m.