Columbus, Ohio. - The Providence College women's ice hockey team dropped a thriller to the Buckeyes of Ohio State University, 2-1. PC and OSU faced off for just the third time in history, and it was OSU who came out on top behind two second period goals. Providence now stands at 2-5-2 (2-2-1 HOCKEY EAST), while Ohio State improves to 6-5-2 (4-4-2 WCHA).
The teams remained tied 0-0 after one period of play, but both the Friars and the Buckeyes generated scoring chances. PC's junior goaltender Danielle Ciarletta (Blaine, Minn.) was tested early by the Buckeyes, as she had to come up with consecutive saves in order to keep OSU's Christina Manucuso off the score board at 4:59. For the Friars, Katleen Smith had a scoring chance at 6:01 when Sarah Feldman (Fall River, Mass.) feathered a pass from the bottom of the face off circle over to Smith in the slot, but OSU's junior goaltender Liana Bonanno made the save. Ciarletta was tested again at 15:35 when she made a left pad save on OSU's Morgan Marzialli, who was in on a break away. Ciarletta made 18 saves in the period, her personal high for one period of play this season.
In the second period Ciarletta made another break away save on OSU's Mancuso at the 1:36. But OSU did get on the board at 6:28 when Michele Tonnessen beat Ciarletta while on a three on two break for the Buckeyes. Colleen Olson and Sandy Nelson were credited with assists on the play. At 11:00 Jenna Kilpatrick added to the Buckeye lead, as she was able to take a pass from Tonnessen and beat Ciarletta from in close. The Friars were able to halve the OSU lead at 14:13 when junior Brittany Simpson (Barrie, Ont.) skated onto a pass from Feldman and shot it into the top corner of the net for her second goal of the season at 14:13. Senior Kathleen Smith (Waterloo, Ont.) also notched an assist on the play.
The third period began with the Friars on the power play, but they were unable to even the score. The teams then played high energy, end-to-end hockey, but great goaltending from both sides kept the score at 2-1 in favor of OSU. At 19:42, Erin Normore (Cambridge, Ont.) fed Feldman for a breakout that saw the senior winger sent off on a partial breakaway, but Bonanno made a stick save for OSU. Feldman was able to draw a penalty on the play. And so, trailing by one with 59 second to play, the Friars were on the power play and they pulled Ciarletta in favor of the extra attacker as well, but could not score the equalizer. Ciarletta finished with a season high 38 saves for the Friars, while Bonanno made 26 for OSU.
The Friars and Buckeyes will play again tomorrow, November 17 at 4:00 p.m. at the OSU Ice Rink in Columbus, Ohio.