PROVIDENCE SKATES PAST MERCYHURST, 7-3
Kathleen Smith registers two goals and two assists for PC

Kathleen Smith had two goals and two assists for PC

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College women's ice hockey team knocked off the No. 4 ranked Lakers of Mercyhurst College by a score of 7-3 on Saturday afternoon at Schneider Arena. The Lakers came back from a 2-1 deficit midway through the second period, but the Friars scored four unanswered goals en route to the 7-3 victory. With the win, Providence improves to 9-8-2 (4-2-1 HOCKEY EAST), while Mercyhurst falls to 14-5-2 (4-0-0 CHA).

Mercyhurst opened the scoring at 15:13 of the first period as freshman Vicki Bendus snuck one by Providence goalie Danielle Ciarletta (Blaine, Minn.) just inside the right post for her sixth goal of the season, with assists going to Valerie Chouinar and Jesse Scanzano. The Friars tied the score at one goal apiece when senior Kathleen Smith (Waterloo, Ont.) was able to put home a loose puck from the left side of the Mercyhurst crease. Fellow senior Rachel Crissy (Naperville, Ill.) assisted on the goal. Jenna Keilch (Clinton Township, Mich.) gave PC the lead with just over one minute remaining in the first as she netted her third goal of the season off-of a feed from Crissy while the two were skating down on a two-on-one.

Mercyhurst's Stephanie Jones tied the game at 2-2 at the 5:05 mark of the second period while on the power-play. But the resilient Friars continued to pressure the Lakers, and at 14:12 Smith scored her second of the game to regain the lead. She picked up a loose puck around center ice, cut toward the right side of the ice and beat the Mercyhurst goaltender from in close. Just under two minutes later, senior Jenna Keilch scored on a wraparound attempt at 15:58, with assists going to Cherie Hendrickson (Boxford, Mass.) and Smith. After two periods of play, PC held the 4-2 lead.

In the third period, sophomore Pamela McDevitt (So. Boston, Mass.) scored at 3:15 when she took a Kelli Doolin (Dorchester, Mass.) pass and shot it high over the glove of Mercyhurst goaltender Laura Hosier from a few strides inside the blue line for the first goal of her career. Brittany Simpson (Barrie, Ont.) also assisted on the score. Senior Danielle Tangredi (London, Ontario) scored the next Friar goal at 5:40 while on the power-play, with assists going to classmates Sarah Feldman (Fall River, Mass.) and Smith. Hendrickson closed out the scoring at 15:16, with an assist going to Keilch. Ciarletta made 35 saves to earn the win, while Courtney Drennen and Hosier combined for 28 saves for the Lakers.

The Friars finish their 2007-08 slate of non-conference games tomorrow afternoon when they close out their two-game series with Mercyhurst at Schneider Arena in Providence, R.I. The game will begin at 1:00 p.m.