Providence, R.I. - The Providence College women's ice hockey team was defeated by the No. 4 ranked Mercyhurst Lakers, 3-0, this afternoon in a non-conference game at Schneider Arena. Providence fell to 9-9-2 (4-2-1 HOCKEY EAST), while Mercyhurst improved to 15-5-2 (4-0-0 CHA).
In the first period, the Lakers outshot the Friars, 14-12, as PC junior Danielle Ciarletta (Blaine, Minn.) was strong between the pipes, thwarting all 14 shots. Mercyhurst also had two shots glance off the post. Ciarletta continued her strong play in the second period, stopping 15 more shots. The Friars created several scoring opportunities in the second as they had a five-on-three power play, but Mercyhurst goalie Laura Hosier kept the Friars off the scoreboard. PC junior Erin Normore (Cambridge, Ontario) nearly gave the Friars the lead at 16:58, but her shot from the top of the right circle hit the post.
Early on in the third period, the Friars came close again to scoring the game's first goal when senior Sarah Feldman (Fall River, Mass.) stole the puck at the Mercyhurst blue line and raced in on a breakaway, but Hosier made the save on the play at 3:17. Shortly thereafter, the Lakers went on the power play and freshman Ashley Cockell rifled a slap shot off the right post. However, the Lakers finally broke through at 8:19 when junior Natalie Payne's shot from in close beat Ciarletta. Freshman Cassea Schols assisted on the goal. Senior Stephanie Jones gave the Lakers a two-goal cushion as she scored a short-handed goal at 13:06, while Schols added an empty netter at 18:53 to seal the win.
Ciarletta finished with 44 saves, one shy of matching her career high which she set last season against Mercyhurst. Hosier stopped all 32 shots in the victory.
The Friars return to conference action next weekend with two Hockey East games. On Saturday, January 19 the Friars will travel to Durham to face New Hampshire at 2:00 p.m. at UNH's Whittemore Center. Then the Friars will host Boston University for a 2:00 p.m. game at Schneider Arena on Sunday, January 20.