Providence, R.I. - The women's ice hockey defeated Northeastern by a score 8-3 in Hockey East action Sunday afternoon. The teams were knotted at 3-3 after two periods of play, but the Friars exploded for five goals in the third, including three by freshman Alyse Ruff (Tualatin, Ore.) to distance themselves from the Huskies. Providence now stands at 15-12-3 (10-5-2 HE) on the season, while Northeastern falls to 6-21-3 (5-11-1 HE).
The Huskies were able to strike first thanks to an early breakaway goal by Colleen Sanborn at 2:05 of the first period. The Husky lead did not last however as the Friars were able to even the score during four-on-four play when Katy Beach (Cleveland, Ohio) was able to one-time a pass from Sarah Feldman (Fall River, Mass.) at 14:44 of the first period into the back of the net.
The action picked up in the second period as both the Huskies and the Friars were able to score twice. Providence was able to open up a 3-1 lead after Mari Pehkonen (Tampere, Finland) was able to bury a Brittany Simpson (Barrie, Ontario) pass at 7:02 and Sarah Feldman (Fall River, Mass.) was able to beat Leah Sulyma with a power-play goal at 14:18. The goal was assisted by Danielle Tangredi (London, Ontario). The remainder of the second period saw the Huskies roar back into the game and score two goals of thier own, including an Ali Bielawski goal just seven seconds after Feldman had given the Friars a two goal cushion. Then at 18:13 Chelsey Jones tied the game at 3-3 when she knocked home a rebound in front of the PC goal.
The Friars then came out and scored five goals in the third period. At the five minute mark, Ruff netted her first goal when she powered in a loose puck in front of the NU cage. The game-winning goal was assisted by Jean O'Neill (Strafford, Pa.) and Pehkonen. Kathleen Smith (Waterloo, Ontario) scored next, at 8:12, when she one-timed a pass from Ruff in the high slot. Pehkonen also assisted on the score. Ruff scored her second of the period at 15:15, as she took a pass from Pehkonen , who won the face-off back to Ruff, and beat NU goaltender Leah Sulyma with a wrist shot over Sulyma's shoulder. Ruff then completed her hat trick at 17:14, with assists going to Pehkonen and O'Neill. Freshman Amber Yung closed out the scoring at 19:10, as she notched her second goal of the season with a drive from the point. Stephanie Morris (So. Burlington, Vt.) assisted on the play. It was Ruff's second hat trick of the season, an Pehkonen's first five point, as well as four assist, game. Danielle Ciarletta (Blaine, Minn.) finished with 16 saves for the Friars,while Sulyma made 37 stops for NU.
The Friars return to action next weekend, as they play a home-andhome series versus New Hampshire. The first game will be on Saturday, February 23 in Providence, R.I. The puck drops at 1:00 p.m.