PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Providence College women's ice hockey defeated Bemidji State, 5-1, Saturday, October 6 in the second game of their home opening weekend. The game marked the first win of the season for the Friars.
The Friars started off the scoring with a goal from senior Jessica Vella (Pickering, Ontario) at 9:33 of the first. Vella received a breakout pass from freshman Lexi Slattery (Lino Lakes, Minn.) made a move to her forehand and slid the puck past Bemidji's Abby Ryplanski.
The Beavers quickly tied the game five minutes later, when freshman Kaitlyn Tougas snapped one past Friar goaltender Sarah Bryant (Bethleham, Pa.) after collecting a pass from Beaver Whitney Wivoda, while on the power-play.
With the game tied at one apiece, the Friars took the jump four minutes into the second period with Vella's second goal of the game. Sophomore Haley Frade (Marion, Mass.) and junior Rebecca Morse (Westfield, N.J.) assisted on the play. The Friars put the game out of reach with a pair of goals within a second span late in the second period. At 15:47, freshman Molly Illikainen (Grand Rapids, Minn.) skated in with sophomore Brooke Simpson (Boxborough, Mass.), who rifled Illikainen's feed with a one-timer. Just seconds, later junior Corinne Buie (Edina, Minn.) won a faceoff to Frade, who carried the puck along the left wing and slid it in off a backhand shot.
The Friars scoring did not end in the second period. Providence carried over their momentum through the third period. Anderson notched her second point of the game with a goal at 15:42. She put the puck in the back of the net off a feed from junior Maggie Pendleton (Woodbury, Minn.).
Bryant finished the game with 12 saves to earn her first career victory. The Friars outshot the Beavers 21 to 12.
Providence is back in action Friday, October 12 and Saturday, October 13 when they travel to Erie, Pa. to face off against the Mercyhurst Lakers.