WINCHENDON, Mass. — Grayson Limke's second collegiate goal opened the scoring, but four-straight Ravens goals proved too much as the Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team fell to Franklin Pierce on Tuesday night, 4-2.
 
Fresh off a weekend sweep, the Pioneers began the contest in fine form, immediately putting the Ravens under pressure within the games opening minutes, ultimately resulting in the first power play of the game for the Red & White. The Pios went to work on the personnel advantage but could not convert on their first opportunity of the period as the Ravens held strong through the first half of the first period. 
 
Past the midway point of the period, the home side earned their first power play of the game but the Pios held strong as FPU could not find the necessary offensive touch to get past SHU netminder Jillian Petruno who stymied the Ravens power play on their FIRST opportunity of the night. With under a minute to go the Pios drew another penalty, but the period ran out before SHU could push for the opening goal as the period ended 0-0. 
 
Both teams entered the middle frame looking to cause a stir in the deadlock but could not find their way on the scoresheet as FPU had the best chance to open the scoring halfway through the second period. After two consecutive SHU penalties, the Ravens had 1:24 of five-on-three power play time but could not convert as Petruno closed the door on a plethora of FPU chances. 
 
Just past the hallway point, the Pioneers opened the scoring on the rush as first year Grayson Limke scored her second goal of the season on the rush to put SHU ahead, 1-0. Limke received a pass from fellow first year defender Peyton Bennetts and skated up the ice, sending a pass in the slot that was deflected into the goal to give SHU the lead. 
 
Late in the period, the Ravens found their way on the board after SHU failed to clear the defensive zone. After Petruno stopped a puck just outside the crease, FPU's Memphis Mertens gathered the loose puck and sent a wrist shot past the SHU netminder and into the back of the net to level the score, 1-1, heading into the third period. 
 
After a dominant third period display on Saturday, the Pioneers could not replicate the same success they had three days prior as the Ravens' Anna Caumo struck three times in the final frame to give the home side a 4-1 lead heading into the final six minutes of the frame. After opening the third period just under five minutes into the frame, Caumo completed the hat trick bid with a power-play goal just past the halfway mark of the period before sending her third tally past Petruno with exactly six minutes to go. 
 
The Pioneers took one back with just over 20 seconds left in regulation as Sophie Lupone tipped a shot out in front on the power play that made its way past FPU's Jill Hertl as the Pios could not entertain the comeback effort, falling to FPU, 4-2. 
 
Top Performers:

• Sophie Lupone: 1 goal, 1 assist
• Grayson Limke: 1 goal
• Paige McNeil: 1 assist 

 
Of Note:

• Limke's first period goal is her second collegiate goal as she has now scored in consecutive games for the first time in her career. She has now accumulated all four of her collegiate points in the last two games. 
• Lupone's third period goal is her second goal of the season and her first since scoring in SHU's season-opening win over Saint Michael's on September 29. 
• With Lupone's power-play goal, the Pioneers have now scored on the advantage in consecutive games for the first time this season.

 
Up Next: 
The Pioneers return to action this weekend with a matchup against 13/12 Yale on Friday, November 24 in the 2023 installment of the Nutmeg Cup before facing the winner of either 7/9 Quinnipiac or 11/11 Connecticut on Saturday. Game time on Friday from Yale's Ingalls Rink is slated for 3 p.m. while Saturday's contest will is scheduled for either 3 p.m or 6 p.m. More information will be available on sacredheartpioneers.com.