Winchendon, Mass. (November 8) -- A hat trick by junior Alex Erban (Attleboro, Mass. / Mount Saint Charles) led the Assumption College ice hockey team to its first win of the season on Saturday, topping Northeast-10 opponent Franklin Pierce by a score of 5-3.

With the win, Assumption improves to 1-2 on the season and kicks off 2014-15 undefeated in conference play. FPU drops to 0-3 overall, 0-1 in the NE-10.

In a back-and-forth match-up, it was Franklin Pierce who got on the board first with a power-play goal just 8:20 into the first period to take a 1-0 lead.

It wasn't until midway through the second period that Assumption found the back of the net with 11:22 on the clock. The play started with a hard shot from the right point by senior Ben Kuzma (East Haven, Conn. / East Haven High School). Kuzma's shot was saved by Raven goalie Kyle Moran but rebounded to the left-wing circle where Erban was able to find it and put it away to even the score. 

Just over 30 seconds later, Franklin Pierce responded with a shot from the left point to regain the lead, 2-1.

Assumption scored another equalizer under six minutes later, this one off the stick of freshman Matt Cowles (Farmington, Conn. / Avon Old Farms). Cowles was assisted by classmate Tommy Mahoney (Braintree, Mass. / Braintree) on the play.

The squads continued the wild period on another set of back-to back goals, first from Franklin Pierce. The Ravens' Jonathan Lee was able to bury a blocked shot past Hound keeper Chris Hemhauser (Old Saybrook, Conn. / Glastonbury High School) for yet another FPU lead (3-2). 

The goal was followed up just 31 seconds later by Erban's second of the night. Erban lined up from the left-wing circle and fired for the final goal of the second period, tying the score at 3-3. He was assisted by seniors Brennen Shaw (Presque Isle, Maine / Brewster Academy) and Trevor Plante (Blackstone, Mass. / Mt. St. Charles) on the play. 

It was Assumption who struck first in the third period to put Franklin Pierce behind 4-3. Senior Joe Arcieri (Newmarket, N.H. / St. Thomas Aquinas), who received a pass from sophomore Ryan Gomez  (Wayne, N.J. / Wayne Valley) blasted a shot from the right circle to give the Hounds their first lead of the game with just under 12 minutes left to play. 

The final Greyhound goal came with just one second left in the game. Erban was able to take advantage of an empty-net situation to tally his third of the contest and seal the win.

Assumption outshot the Ravens 38-34 on the day while emerging with 42 of 81 face offs. 

The Hounds are set to return to action on Friday, Nov. 14 as they host Stonehill in their second NE-10 match-up of the season. Face off is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. at Buffone Arena in Worcester, Mass. 

For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. For more information, contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 508-767-7240.