BEAUDRY BACKSTOPS PROVIDENCE COLLEGE TO 2-0 SHUTOUT WIN OVER MERRIMACK
Junior goaltender Alex Beaudry posts first career shutout for Friars

Junior goaltender Alex Beaudry earned a shutout with 29 saves for the Friars

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Junior goaltender Alex Beaudry (Cumberland, Ontario) stopped all 29 shots he faced to lead the Providence College men's hockey team to a 2-0 victory over Merrimack Friday night in a Hockey East game played at Schneider Arena. It marked the first career shutout for Beaudry and the first for a Providence goalie since 2007.

The win was the second consecutive for the Friars who improved to 3-4-1 overall and 3-2-1 in league play. Merrimack fell to 2-2-2 overall and 1-2-1 in the conference.

After a scoreless first period, the Friars took a 1-0 lead at 14:37 of the second period when sophomore Tim Schaller (Merrimack, N.H.) scored his second goal of the season. Junior Andy Balysky (Randolph, N.J.) made a cross ice pass from his own end to sophomore Chris Rooney (Canton, Mass.) down to the right wing boards. Rooney, who was hit along the boards, stayed on his feet and drove to the net before firing a wrist shot that was saved by Merrimack goalie Joe Cannata. However, Schaller pounced on the rebound in front to give Providence the lead.

Merrimack pulled Cannata for an extra skater with 1:27 remaining in the third period and had several shots from in close, but Beaudry thwarted every chance. With the Warriors putting pressure on the Friars, junior Matt Bergland (Faribault, Minn.) was able to clear the puck to the Merrimack zone. Senior co-captain Ian O'Connor (Londonderry, N.H.) raced to the puck and tapped it into the empty net from the right circle with four seconds remaining. For O'Connor, it marked the third consecutive game in which he has scored one goal.

The Friars are back in action on Saturday, November 6 at 7:00 when they host Vermont at Schneider Arena. Merrimack will not play until Friday, November 12 when they travel to face Boston University.