Schenectady, N.Y. - The Providence College women's ice hockey team opened its 2013-14 season with a road game against Union College on Friday, Oct. 4. The Friars fell 5-2 to the Dutchwomen to move their record to 0-1-0 and their all-time record against Union to 3-1-0.
The scoreless first period was filled with back and forth action from both sides, with Providence edging the Dutchwomen in shots, 9-8. Senior Nina Riley (Lexington, Mass.) stood strong between the pipes as she faced numerous Union breakaways. Both the Friars and the Dutchwomen took a turn on the power play during the first period but neither team could capitalize on the man advantage.
The Friars were first on the board with a goal during the second period, only to be countered by two Dutchwomen goals. Freshman Cassidy Carels (Bruxelles, Manitoba) tallied her first collegiate point with the first goal of the season. Sophomore Lexi Romanchuk and Graduate student Janine Weber (Innsbruck, Austria) tallied the assists on the play. Weber fed Romanchuk, who fired it from the blueline before being tipped by Carels. Weber tallied her first collegiate point on the play, while Romanchuk notched her first point of the season and 10th of her career.
Union's Christine Valente answered with a powerplay goal at 9:42 of the period. The Dutchwomen then took the lead at 7:51 with a goal that was tipped past Riley, who made five saves during the second period. It was Courtney Turner that tipped the puck to give Union the go ahead goal.
Union tallied two goals in the first half of the third period to extend their lead to 4-1. Valente claimed her second goal of the game at 2:52 of the third period. She was assisted by Stefani Thomson on the play. Ashley Johnston notched her first point of the season while on the powerplay, with the Dutchwomen's second goal of the period at 8:05.
The Friars were only able to get on the board once more before the final buzzer. Senior Maggie Pendleton (Woodbury, Minn.) notched her first goal of the season with a powerplay tally at 13:17 of the final period. Pendleton fired a puck past Union goaltender Shenae Lundberg from the point to close Union's lead to 4-2. Pendleton was assisted by classmate Corinne Buie (Edina, Minn.) and junior Brooke Simpson (Boxboro, Mass.) on the play.
The Dutchwomen sealed the win with an empty net goal from Turner with 1:04 left to play. Riley finished the game with 15 saves, while Lundberg finished with 22.
Providence entered the game with a 11-3-2 all-time record in season opening road games. Overall the Friars are now 23-10-3 in season openers.
The Friars will wrap-up the two game road series against Union tomorrow, Oct. 5 at 4:00 p.m. in the Frank L. Messa Rink.