PROVIDENCE COLLEGE DEFEATED BY HARVARD, 8-1

Senior forward Jessica Vella scored a goal for the Friars

BOSTON, Mass. - The Providence College women's ice hockey team fell to No. 4 Harvard, 8-1, on Friday, Dec. 7 in the Bright Hockey Center. With the loss the Friars move their overall record to 8-8-4 and their road record to 2-6-2.

The Crimson were first on the board with a power-play goal from senior Kelsey Romatoski. The goal came with 40.3 seconds remaining in the first period. Romatoski fired a puck from the point that made its way past junior goaltender Nina Riley (Lexington, Mass.), who was screened on the play.

Havard outshot Providence, 17-7, to add on four goals during the second period, giving them a five goal lead going into the third period. Senior Jillian Dempsey notched two goals just minutes apart during the second period for the Crimson.

The first goal scored by Harvard during the second period came at 7:19 from senior Kaitlin Spurling. Riley made the initial save right before Spurling put in the rebound off the back door. Nineteen seconds later Dempsey added on a goal for the Crimson at 7:38 of the second period.

Dempsey notched her second of goal of the game at 9:59 of the second period, when she fired a puck low five-hole on Riley. Before the conclusion of the period freshman Miye D'Oench tallied her third goal of the season, when she beat the Friar defense wide before firing the puck on net.

Riley made several odd man rush saves during the third period but could not stop the Crimson offense from adding on to their lead. Romatoski put a shot on goal blocker side that found its way to the back of the net at 10:48 of the third period. Dempsey earned a four goal game with goals at 11:10 and 16:01 of the third period.

The Friars broke the Crimson shutout with 10.8 seconds left in the game. Senior Jessica Vella (Pickering, Ontario) put a backhand shot on net that went five hole on senior goaltender Laura Bellamy. Vella notched her ninth goal of the season on the play and was assisted by junior Stephanie DeMars (Vermontville, N.Y.) and senior Nicole Anderson (Jordan, Minn.). DeMars earned her first career point on the play, while Anderson tallied her 20th point of the season.

The Friars were outshot by the Crimson, 44-17. Riley matched a career high 36 saves in the game.

The Friars will break for Chirstmas before returning to action on Monday, Dec. 31 to take on Dartmouth in an afternoon match-up. The game will take place in Schneider Arena at 2:00 p.m.