Feb. 9, 2008

Box Score

Storrs, Conn. - The women's ice hockey team was defeated by No. 8/9 Connecticut, 3-0, in Hockey East action on Saturday afternoon. The Friars created several scoring chances but UConn's Brittany Wilson shut down the Friars, turning aside all 21 shots he faced, while the Connecticut offense used two third period goals to pull away. Providence now stands at 12-12-3 (7-5-2 HE) while Connecticut improves to 18-4-5 (9-2-3 HE).

In the first period, the Friars' best scoring chance in the early stages of the game came at 9:31 when Alyse Ruff (Tualatin, Ore.) had two chances from the slot, but UConn's Wilson made both saves. Kathleen Smith (Waterloo, Ontario) had PC's next scoring chance at 13:53 when she skated into the high-slot and ripped a slap-shot off of Wilson's left shoulder. UConn's Britney Chandler had a quality chance from in close at 16:27, but PC goaltender Danielle Ciarletta (Blaine, Minn.) made the save to keep the teams tied at 0-0 entering the first intermission.

In the second, Ciarletta came up with another save at the 8:56 mark when she turned aside a Michelle Binning chance from her right side. From the ensuing breakout, Katy Beach (Cleveland, Ohio) ended up with a shot from the top of UConn's crease, but Wilson made the save. Providence continued to control play, and while on the power-play, the Friars generated several more quality chances, including two consecutive shots by Mari Pehkonen (Tampere, Finland) that required Wilson to make two right-pad stops. UConn then had a few chances while they skated with the five-on-four advantage, including Samantha Reid's shot from just outside the crease, but Ciarletta and the Friars killed of the power-play. But UConn was able to strike first when Jaclyn Hawkins slid her shot along the ice past a screened Ciarletta from in close.

UConn added to their lead early in the third when Dominique Thibault scored on a two-on-one break, with a pass from Amy Hollstein, to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead at 1:12. UConn made it 3-0 at 4:27 when Hollstein forced a turnover at her own blueline, picked up the loose puck and beat Ciarletta with a slap-shot from the top of the left face-off circle.

Ciarletta and freshman Jennifer Smith (St. Albans, Vt.) combined to make 13 saves for the Friars, while Wilson made 21 saves to earn the win.

The Friars return to action tomorrow as they close out their season series with Connecticut. The game will be played at PC's Schneider Arena, beginning at 2:00 p.m.