PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Junior Ashley Cottrell (Sterling Heights, Mich.) scored with just 58.9 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Providence College women's ice hockey team a 3-2 victory in the 16th annual Mayor's Cup.
The game-winner was set up by a face-off to the right of the Brown goal. Friar co-captain Alyse Ruff (Tualatin, Ore.) won the draw cleanly to Cottrell on her left. Cottrell's initial shot was blocked but she hammered the rebound past Bear goalie Katie Jamieson for her sixth of the year.
Brown scored the lone goal of the first period, despite being outshot by the Friars 12-6 in the opening frame. At the 16:11 mark of the first, Brown broke on a 3-on-1 break with senior Erica Kromm carrying the puck on the right wing. Kromm sent a pass toward the net that was redirected home by a cutting Laurie Jolin for a 1-0 Bear lead.
The Friars got on the board 5:19 into the second period. Sophomore Jessica Vella (Pickering, Ontario) won the puck back to junior Jen Friedman (San Gabriel, Calif.) at the point. The defenseman blasted a slapshot through a screen in front and into the back of the net for her second of the season and a 1-1 hockey game.
Four minutes later, PC took the lead. Junior Abby Gauthier (Lynn, Mass.) skated out from behind the Brown net and attempted a centering pass. The puck hit a skate and appeared to travel in between the goaltender's pads. It remained loose, however, until junior Kate Bacon (Chanhassen, Minn.) poked it home for her team-leading 12th of the year.
Thirty-nine seconds later, at the 10:11 mark of the middle period, Brown's Jolin re-knotted the game by turning on a loose puck in the slot while falling down. Her second of the game sent the teams to the second intermission tied, 2-2, and setting the stage for Cottrell's heroics in the third.
Providence goalie Genevieve Lacasse made 26 saves to earn her tenth win of the season. Jamieson stopped 33 shots.
The Friars return home on Sunday, November 28, when they welcome ECAC foe Union for a 4 p.m. face-off. Tickets are available by calling the Providence College ticket office at (401) 865 GOPC.