PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College women's hockey team captured the 19th annual Mayor's Cup with a 3-2 overtime win against the Brown Bears on Saturday, Nov. 30 at Schneider Arena. With the win, Providence moves their overall record to 7-10-0 and 7-9-3 in Mayor Cup games.
The Brown Bears were first on the board with a goal from Ariana Rucker at 14:17 of the first period. The sophomore forward entered the zone with teammate Janice Yang, who fed Rucker a pass from the top of the circle. Rucker fired the puck high blocker side on sophomore goaltender Sarah Bryant (Bethlehem, Pa.). Rucker and Yang were also assisted on the play by line mate Kaitlyn Keon.
Following the conclusion of the first period of play, Brown had outshot Providence, 12-10. Both teams went 0-for-2 on the power play during the period. Providence had several chances during the period but were shutout by Brown goaltender Aubree Moore.
The Friars evened the score while down a player on the penalty kill. Junior Beth Hanrahan (Poolesville, Md.) intercepted a breakout pass by a Brown defender and tipped the puck to sophomore Molly Illikainen (Grand Rapids, Minn.). Illikainen fired a puck from the slot that beat Moore low blocker side at 6:01 of the second period. Illikainen tallied her fourth goal of the season on the play, while Hanrahan earned her fifth assist of the year.
After two periods of play, Providence trailed 21-18 in shots, while holding the edge in faceoffs, 22-20. The Friars successfully killed off both penalties taken during the second period to move them to 4-for-4 on the kill in the first two periods of play.
Brown took its second lead of the game at 5:31 of the third period with an unassisted goal from Jessica Hoyle. Hoyle capitalized on a turnover behind the Friar goal before wrapping the puck around the net past Bryant.
Providence battled back and tied the score for the second time of the game. Hanrahan received a pass from senior Corinne Buie (Edina, Minn.) before entering the zone with a one-on-one with a Brown defender. Hanrahan wound up and blasted a low slap shot that rang off the post and into the back of the net at 14:15 of the period. Hanrahan tallied her sixth goal of the season and second point of the season, while Buie notched her 13th assist of the season. With her 20th point of the season, Buie is the only current Friar to have notched a 20-plus point season in each of her four seasons at Providence.
The Friars offense exploded after the tying goal, with Providence outshooting the Brown Bears 17-5 during the third period. Neither team would find the go ahead goal during regulation time and the game would be decided with a five minute overtime period.
Providence continued its strong presence in the offensive zone during overtime, holding Brown to zero shot attempts. Graduate student Janine Weber (Innsbruck, Austria) collected a neutral zone regroup pass from senior Maggie Pendleton (Woodbury, Minn.), who received a cross ice pass from freshman Kendra Goodrich (Apple Valley, Minn.). Weber came flying into Brown's defensive end and fired a shot high blocker side that Moore was not able to control. Weber's overtime game-winning goal came at 1:27 of the frame.
Providence's penalty kill helped to guide it to the win with a shorthanded tally and killing off all six penalties taken during the game. The Friars out shot the Bears 39-26 and edged faceoffs, taking 37 of 65.
In his 15th season, Head Coach Bob Deraney captured the all-time wins record for the school with his 265th career win. He moved his all-time record to 265-197-61.
Deraney and the Friars are back in action on Friday, Dec. 1, when they host Yale in a 7:00 p.m. puck drop at Schneider Arena.