Feb. 24, 2008

Box Score

Durham, N.H. - The Providence College women's ice hockey team lost to No. 2 New Hampshire, 3-1, in Hockey East action Sunday afternoon. The Friars scored first, but UNH answered with a goal late in the first and another in the second to take the lead. PC had several chances in the third to tie it up, but UNH was able to seal the win with an empty net goal. With the loss, Providence now stands at 15-14-3 (10-7-2 HE) on the season, while New Hampshire improves to 28-3-1 (18-0-1 HE).

The Friars earned a five-on-three advantage at 10:13 fo the first when UNH's Jennifer Hitchcock joined teammate Jenn Wakefield in the penalty box. The Friars were quick to take advantage, as senior defenseman Kathleen Smith (Waterloo, Ontario) opened the scoring at the 10:22 mark. Smith's goal came on a low slapshot from the point, with assists from Erin Normore (Cambridge, Ontario) and Sarah Feldman (Fall River, Mass.). PC goaltender Danielle Ciarletta (Blaine, Minn) then made a save on UNH's Leah Craig at the 11:20 mark, after the forward got off a quick snapshot from the slot on a two-on-one break, to keep the Friars in front. But UNH was able to tie the score, 1-1, at 12:36 when Jenn Wakefiled converted on a one-timer from Raylen Dziengelewski in the low slot.

PC's Kelli Doolin (Dorchester, Mass.) had a good scoring chance for the Friars early in the second while on the penalty kill at 1:13, but UNH's Kayley Herman was equal to the task. After several saves by Ciarletta, including a stop on UNH's Steph Holmes at 15:54 from in close, the Wildcats were able to take their first lead of the afternoon when Holmes beat Ciarletta at 16:04. Wakefiled assisted on the goal. After two periods of play UNH held a 2-1 lead.

The Friars came close to tying the game just under two minutes into the third when Smith deked two UNH defensemen in front of the New Hampshire cage, but Herman was able to get her left pad on the puck to turn aside smith's shot. Then Feldman almost equalized for the Friars at 12:36 when Colleen Martin (Woburn, Mass.) found Feldman alone in front of the UNH goal, but Herman came up with the save. With 1:47 remaining, PC pulled Ciarletta in favor of an extra attacker, but chances by Normore and Jean O'Neill (Strafford, Pa.) were blocked and UNH's Hitchcock added an empty net goal with seven seconds remaining. In net, Ciarletta finished with 24 saves for PC, while Herman stopped 16 shots.

The Friars conclude the regular season portion of their schedule next weekend with a home-and-home series versus Boston College. The first game of the series will be played Friday, February 29 at BC's Kelley Rink in Chestnut Hill, Mass. with a 2:00 p.m. start. The Friars will then close out the regular season at Schneider Arena when they host BC for a 1:00 game on Saturday, March 1.