PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College women's ice hockey team posted a 4-2 win to sweep the weekend series over the Maine Black Bears on Sunday, Nov. 24 at Schneider Arena. The Friars improve to 6-10-0 overall and 3-5-0 against Hockey East opponents.
Maine held a 2-1 lead over the Friars after the first period. Audra Richards netted the first goal only 1:07 into the game. Brianne Kilgour set up Richards, who got a shot off in the slot to beat Friar goaltender sophomore Sarah Bryant (Bethlehem, Pa.).
Providence evened the score when junior Allison Micheletti (Inner Grove Heights, Minn.) tipped a shot by junior Beth Hanrahan (Poolesville, Md.) past Maine goaltender Meghann Treacy. Corinne Buie (Edina, Minn.) also assisted on the tying goal at 3:21 of the first.
Missy Denk regained the lead for the Black Bears at 6:41 when she put the rebound of a shot taken by Jennifer More past Bryant.
Providence responded to the deficit in the second period, as the team found the back of the net twice during the period. Both Friar goals came while on the power play. Buie evened the game at two with a goal at 2:26 of the period. Junior Brooke Simpson (Boxboro, Mass.) connected a pass to Buie, who beat Treacy low. Junior Victoria Virtue (Walpole, Mass.) also earned an assist on the play.
Sophomore Lexi Romanchuk (San Jose, Calif.) put the Friars ahead for the first time in the game at 11:04 of the second. Romanchuk's first goal of the season was set up by passing on the power play by junior Haley Frade (Marion, Mass.) and Buie. Romanchuk was playing the point while the Friars were playing 5-on-3. The defenseman's shot went bar down over the shoulder of Treacy to give Providence a 3-2 lead.
The Friars added onto their lead in the final period of play when Buie tallied her second goal of the game at 1:04 of the third. Buie gave Providence a 4-2 lead over the Black Bears with her second goal of the game. Romanchuk and Simpson set up the play to get Buie the puck. Buie then fired a bad angle shot from the goal line that alluded Treacy to extend the Friars lead. Buie's goal was the Friars third power play goal of the game.
Special teams played a large role in the Friars victory as three of the four Providence goals were scored with the extra skater. Providence also had a strong game while shorthanded, killing off all four penalties.
Providence outshot Maine, 38-25 in the game. Bryant made 23 stops in the win for the Friars. Treacy stopped 34 saves for the Black Bears in the loss.
The Friars return to the ice on Saturday, Nov. 30 for a non-conference game against Brown in the annual Mayor's Cup. The game is set to start at 4:00 p.m. at Schneider Arena.