Warwick native Kelsey Holmes has been taking her first strides as a college hockey player this winter for Franklin Pierce, and she has been able to earn significant playing time for the Ravens as a freshman.

Holmes, who matriculated from Toll Gate, has played in 17 of the 20 games to date for Franklin Pierce, picking up four points as a forward.

It didn’t take her long to etch her name onto the scoresheet, assisting on the Ravens’ final goal in the team’s fourth contest of the campaign, a 5-1 triumph over the University of New England on Nov. 5.

The wait for Holmes’s first goal at the collegiate level was a little longer, however, as it came in FPU’s Nov. 18 demolition of Post, an 11-0 rout in which the Ravens took full advantage of a shorthanded Eagles squad that suited up just 12 players.

Her marker came 14:32 into the third period, taking a deflection off a Post player after receiving a pass from Meg Gilbride to put Franklin Pierce up 8-0 at the time.

Four games remain for the Ravens this winter, starting with Tuesday evening’s rematch with Post, rescheduled from Jan. 17 due to several inches of snow blanketing the area.

After their encounter with the Eagles, Franklin Pierce will then wrap up the slate with home games versus New England College and Castleton before traveling to Holy Cross to end the schedule.

Brunelle earns another first-place finish

Pilgrim alumna and current Rhode Island College track standout Melanie Brunelle once again reached the top of the podium in the triple jump this past Saturday, this time sharing first place at the URI Coaches Tribute meet in Kingston.

The former Patriot’s winning effort of 11.09 meters came on her sixth and final attempt, squeezing past her previous best by three centimeters and ensuring a share of the spoils alongside Alanna Hitsherich of Holy Cross.

It was the third time this winter that Brunelle had claimed top honors in the triple jump, having earlier done so at the Coast Guard Invitational on Jan. 14 and at the Springfield Maroon & White Classic one week later.