PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College women's ice hockey team defeated St. Cloud State University in a 4-2 victory on Sunday afternoon at Schneider Arena. With the win, the Friars improve their overall record to 4-3-1 (2-0-0 Hockey East), while the Huskies moved to 2-5-1 (2-4-0 WCHA). Senior Nicole Anderson (Jordan, Minn.) recorded her second career hat trick in the match, netting the game winner for the Friars.
Through the first twenty minutes of play, the Friars grabbed a 1-0 lead on the Huskies. Just as a Providence 5-on-3 man advantage expired, Anderson put the Friars on the board when her fourth goal of the season sailed past St. Cloud goaltender Katie Fitzgerald. Freshman Lexi Slattery (Lino Lakes, Minn.) set her up to take advantage of the 5-on-4 power play that was scored at the 9:35 point of the first period. Junior Maggie Pendleton (Woodbury, Minn.) also tallied a point on the play.
Just 30 seconds into the second period, it seemed as though the Huskies had tied the game after a shot from the blue line made its way through traffic and past Friar's goaltender freshman Sarah Bryant (Bethleham, Pa). After a video review took place, the goal was disallowed and the score remained 1-0.
St. Cloud tied the game at 10:34 of the second period when a shot from Callie Dahl trickled past Bryant and into the back of the net. Junior Corinne Buie (Edina, Minn.) broke the tie in Providence's favor after she received a perfect pass from Anderson to fire the puck past Fitzgerald. The goal came at 17:14 of the second period with Anderson and Pendleton both earning their second point of the game with assists.
Anderson scored the eventual game winner at 4:09 of the third period after collecting the rebound from senior Jessica Vella's (Pickering, Ont.) shot and putting it behind the Huskies netminder.
St. Cloud State closed the score to 3-2 at 13:50 when Abby Ness scored a power play goal for the Huskies after crashing the net. Anderson sealed the win for the Friars by completing her three goal performance with an empty net goal with 22 seconds left in regulation time to complete the scoring at 4-2. Junior Rebecca Morse (Westfield, N.J.) notched an assist on the empty net goal.
Anderson tied a career high in goals with three as her only other hat trick came during a game against Boston College on Nov. 15, 2009. The last time Anderson registered four points was against Union College on Nov. 27, 2011.
Bryant made 22 saves in the Friars win, while Fitzgerald stopped 28 shots for the Huskies. Providence outshot the Huskies, 32-24, in the game.
The Friars will travel to Orono, Maine next weekend to take on the Maine Black Bears on Friday, Nov. 2 at 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 3 at 1:00 p.m.