WINCHENDON, Mass. – Suffolk men's hockey pulled the curtain back on its campaign in the win column for the ninth straight season as the third period strike from Jack Kelly pushed the Rams past Franklin Pierce, 3-2, Friday night at Jason Ritchie Ice Arena. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 3 | Franklin Pierce 2
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-0-0) | Franklin Pierce (0-1-0) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
The scoring started late in the first period when John Garrity was whistled for boarding. The Ravens took advantage of the extra skater, peppering attempts at Nathan Pickett. Suffolk's defense blocked one and the rookie keeper stop another, but ChrisStevenson managed to chop the puck past Pickett on a rebound from the top of the crease to give the hosts a one-goal edge.  

Suffolk leveled the playing 3:17 out of the first intermission. Miller Rubin's shot from the point went wide and Joseph Mortillaro picked up the pieces off the left post and easily finished over Ian Wallace to even the score at one-all. Shawn Montgomery helped on the game-tying goal. 

With just under five minutes to play in the middle period, Phil Kreuser put the blue-and-gold ahead. Rubin and Kelly set up the senior's one-top with a centering feed that gave Suffolk a 2-1 lead at the 15:10 minute mark.  

The Rams did not remain ahead for long as Franklin Pierce responded 3:29 later. For the second time on the night, the hosts took advantage of the powerplay. James Morrissey tipped in Ryan Gorbett's shot from the left point to knot the outing at two as the game transitioned into the second break. 

In the third period, the tied score stood until Kelly converted a breakaway. Following a handful of shots in the Rams' defensive zone, Kreuser sent Kelly on the counter attack and it paid off as the junior's first goal of the season proved to be the game winner. 

NETMINDER NOTES

• Pickett stopped 48 shots to backstop Suffolk to victory. 
• Wallace registered 26 saves in the setback.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Kelly and Kreuser led Suffolk's attack with a one-goal, one-assist effort each. 
• Rubin picked up a pair of points as well on two helpers. 
• Mortillaro scored one goal for Suffolk and Montgomery set-up one shot. 
• Franklin Pierce commanded the shots, 50-29, and faceoffs, 51-29. 
• The Ravens capitalized on the powerplay, converting two of their seven chances, while Suffolk went 1-for-3 on the man-up opportunity.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk won its ninth straight season opener to move to 10-10-1 in season debuts since 1999. 
• The Rams are 2-0-0 in season openers when competing against Franklin Pierce. 
• The blue-and-gold are 3-4-0 when lifting the lid on its calendar on the road. 
• Suffolk defeated Franklin Pierce for the second straight meeting to move to 13-5-2 all-time versus the Ravens. 
• Pickett's 48-save effort is the most for a Rams' netminder since Michael Levine stopped 53 against then-No. 11/13 Hobart Feb. 9, 2019.
• Rubin matched a personal-best two helpers. 
• Kreuser set a career-high in points with a pair behind his first one-goal, one-assist effort in a Suffolk sweater. 
• Nick Lachaine, Griffin Clark, Ryan Donnelly, Henry Bishop, Devin Lowe, Pickett and Adam Romano made their collegiate debuts.  

POST-GAME PIC
  

ON TAP
Suffolk turns its attention to NEHC action as it remains on the road next weekend with a trek to upstate New York for conference clashes at Skidmore and No. 5 Hobart. The Rams will first pay visit to the Thoroughbreds Friday, Nov. 8 for a 7 p.m. battle, before stopping by Statesmen the following day, Saturday, Nov. 9 for a 4 p.m. match.