ORONO, Maine - Jennie Gallo's (Castegar, British Columbia) power play goal 7:03 into the first period would prove to be the difference as the University of Maine women's ice hockey team defeated #8/9 Providence, 3-2 on Monday afternoon. The win was Maine's first over a ranked opponent since they defeated #5 Boston College on Nov. 11, 2008 by a score of 5-3 at Alfond Arena. The win moved Maine to 9-8-4 and 3-4-2 in Women's Hockey East action while Providence fell to 14-6-1 and 5-3-1 in league play.
Maine jumped out to a 1-0 lead midway through the first period when Kayla Kaluzny (Calgary, Alberta) notched her second goal of the season. Ashley Norum (Fairbanks, Alaska) started the play when she fired a shot that was blocked in front. The puck would trickle around the back of the net where Kaluzny took control. Kaluzny would carry the puck out from behind the net, square up to the Providence net and slip a wrist shot top shelve over Providence goaltender Nina Riley's left shoulder.
The Black Bears would extend their lead just over four minutes later when Brittany Dougherty (Chesterfield, Mich.) cashed in for her eleventh goal of the season. The goal developed as a Providence defender attempted to stick handle the puck out of the zone. However, Dougherty would interrupt the play with a poke check with enough force to stuff the puck past Riley, giving Maine a 2-0 edge.
Brittany Ott (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) would keep the Black Bears up by two as she made a beautiful save on a Providence break away. The Providence forward carried the puck in, getting behind the Maine defense. She would put a move on Ott and try to stuff the puck home but Ott used great patience and made the outstretched, pad save on her blocker side.
With the teams skating four-on-four, Providence would close the gap with a goal from Ashley Cottrell. Cottrell would steal the puck in the Maine zone and send a quick shot on net from the right circle. The puck would sneak past Ott, cutting the Maine lead to 2-1 with 3:24 remaining in the second period. Kate Bacon assisted on the goal for the Friars.
With the Black Bears skating on the power play, Gallo would tip home a goal to give Maine a 3-1 advantage with 12:57 to play in the third period. Gallo brought the puck out of the Maine zone and sent a pass to Myriam Croussette (Baie-Comeau, Quebec). Croussette would streak into the Providence zone, carrying the puck down the left side while Gallo sprinted towards the net. Croussette sent a wrist shot towards the net that Gallo was able to tip past Riley.
The Friars would again close within one goal, 8:55 into the third period. The Friars set up on the power play and moved the puck through the Maine zone was Alyse Ruff sent a pass to Jennifer Friedman. Friedman would find Corinne Buie on the left post as she was able to flick the puck up and over Ott.
Providence would pull Riley on two separate occasions in the third period but Ott and the Black Bears would shut them down for a total of 1:16 to lock up the win for Maine.
The Black Bears offense kept pressure on Riley all night as they held the edge in shots 30-16. Ott turned away 14 shots in her seventh win of the season, moving her record to 7-7-3. Riley made 27 saves for Providence in her first action of the season as her record drops to 0-1-0.
The Black Bears capitalized on one of their four power play chances while Providence went 1-7 with a skater advantage.
The Black Bears return to action when they host Boston College in WHEA play on Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.