PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College women's ice hockey team defeated #7 Boston University, 4-3, Saturday at Schneider Arena.
Senior Abby Gauthier (Lynn, Mass.) scored two goals to lead the PC offense, including an unassisted, shorthanded strike. Sophomore Corinne Buie (Edina, Minn.) added a score and an assist - the goal being the eventual game winner.
It is the Friars' first victory over a ranked-opponent since January 23, 2011, when the team upended then #9 Northeastern at a sold-out Bog Skating Rink in Kingston, Mass.
With the victory in net, Providence goaltender Genevieve Lacasse (Kingston, Ontario) now has 57 wins for her career. One more will tie the Providence record of 58, currently held by Jana Bugden '07.
Providence made the first breakthrough at 4:17 of the first period. Senior Jen Friedman (San Gabriel, Calif.) blasted a shot from the point that was deflected multiple times in the slot. After a brief scramble, senior Kate Bacon (Chanhassen, Minn.) gathered and swept home her sixth of the year.
PC made it 2-0 less than four minutes later. At 8:03, senior Ashley Cottrell (Sterling Heights, Mich.) skated in on a partial breakaway. BU goalie Kerrin Sperry made the initial stop but Gauthier followed and hammered in the rebound for her fourth goal of the season.
BU cut the deficit to 2-1 at 11:40 of the first, when defenseman Kathryn Miller scored a power play goal from the left point, firing the puck through a screen and just inside the near post.
The Friars regained the 2-goal lead with Gauthier's shorthanded strike in the second period. At 16:55, Gauthier knocked down a BU pass just outside the Terrier blueline. The winger then skated in and snuck the puck underneath the netminder. After a video review, the goal stood, and the teams went into the second intermission with a 3-1 Friar lead.
It was PC's sixth shorthanded goal of the season.
The teams then took part in a wild, third period. At 5:38, BU junior Isabel Menard scored from the slot to cut the PC lead to 3-2.
Providence would then add the critical insurance score. Junior Nicole Anderson (Jordan, Minn.) raced towards the Terrier net on another partial break. Again, Sperry made the first stop before Buie pounded in the rebound for a 4-2, Friar advantage. It was the sophomore's team-leading eighth of the year.
Menard again made it a one-goal game at 18:56. With Providence on the penalty kill and the BU net empty at the other end, the junior converted for her eighth of the year from just in front. Providence withstood further pressure in the waning moments to secure the victory.
Both goaltenders were outstanding. Lacasse stopped 25 shots. Sperry halted 30.
The Friars return to action tomorrow, completing the home-and-home at the Terrier's Walter Brown Arena. Face-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. Providence returns home on Thursday, December 8 when it hosts Harvard. Face-off at Schneider Arena is set for 7 p.m. and tickets are available by calling (401) 865 1245 or by visiting Friars.com.