PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College women's hockey team defeated the Merrimack Warriors in game one of the Hockey East Quarterfinal series on March 1 at Schneider Arena.
SCORE
Providence - 2 | Merrimack - 0
RECORDS
Providence: 23-10-2 (16-9-2 HE) | Merrimack: 16-12-7 (12-10-5 HE)
VENUE
Schneider Arena | Providence, R.I.
GAME FLOW & NOTES
- The Friars outshot the Warriors 14-5 in the opening period. Five different Friars recorded two shots.
- Providence continued to outshoot Merrimack, holding an 8-6 edge in the second.
- Through two periods, each team had two power-play opportunities. Providence totaled four shots on the attempts, while holding Merrimack to zero on their extra-man opportunities.
- Meaghan Rickard (Coventry, R.I.) broke the 0-0 stalemate with a goal at the 11:35 mark of the third period. Maureen Murphy (Buffalo, N.Y.) took a shot that went wide. Chloe Gonsalves (Toronto, Ontario) corralled the puck and played a nice pass across the top of the crease for Rickard to tap in.
- Rickard's goal was her ninth of the season. It also extended her point streak to seven games.
- Gonsalves assist was third of the season, while Murphy's was her 21st.
- Christina Putigna (Grimsby, Ontario) capped the game with an empty-net goal at 19:24. The goal was her 14th of the season and pushed her point streak to five games.
- Madison Myers (Colchester, Vt.) made 17 saves in her sixth shutout of the season. She improved her record to 22-9-2.
- Samantha Ridgewell made 29 saves for Merrimack at the other end, allowing just one goal.
- Providence improved to 23-10-2 overall and has now posted the most wins since the 2002-03 season, when the Friars had a program-high 24 wins.
HOW THEY SCORED
1-0 (Providence) - 11:35/3rd - EV - Meaghan Rickard (Gonsalves, Murphy) - Pass across the top of the crease for a tap in
2-0 (Providence) - 19:24/3rd - EN - Christina Putigna (unassisted) - Empty netter
GOALTENDERS
Providence: Madison Myers, 22-9-2: 17 saves, 0 goals against
Merrimack: Samantha Ridgewell, 16-12-7: 29 saves, 1 goal against
STAT COMPARISON
Providence-
Shots: 31
Face-offs: 29/57
Power plays: 0-2 (0%)
Penalty kill: 2-2 (100%)
Merrimack-
Shots: 17
Face-offs: 28/57
Power plays: 0-2 (0%)
Penalty kill: 2-2 (100%)
PC GAME HIGHS
Shots: Putigna (6)
Goals: Rickard, Putigna (1)
Assists: Gonsalves, Murphy (1)
Points: Rickard, Putigna, Gonsalves, Murphy (1)
LOOKING AHEAD
The Friars will continue the series with the Warriors tomorrow (March 2). Puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m.
