NORTHEASTERN EDGES PAST PROVIDENCE, 3-2
Ali Bielawski scores game-winner for Huskies

Ali Bielawski potted the game-winning goal for NU

BOSTON, Mass. - Northeastern came from behind to take a 3-2 win over Providence, and clinch the season series over the Friars at Matthews Arena Saturday night. Northeastern improves to 11-15-3 (6-10-1 HEA)

Providence scored the first goal of the game 3:39 into the first when Erin Normore got a stick on a loose puck in front of the net, and sent it past a sprawling Florence Schelling.

Prior to tonight, Northeastern was 1-14-1 when surrendering the first goal, but the Huskies battled back in this game, evening things at one thanks to a goal from Julia Marty late in the second. Marty picked off a pass in the neutral zone, carried it in with defenders on each side of her, and beat Providence goalie Genevieve Lacass with a shot to the top-right corner.

Florence Schelling and the Huskies' penalty kill kept Norteastern in the game in the second and third periods. Providence saw three man-up situations in the second period and two in the third, but the Huskies' penalty kill unit kept the Friars without a power-play goal in seven tries. Schelling, just a night after making 53 saves against Providence, was just as sharp in the second game of the home-and-home series. The Swiss netminder stopped 15 shots in the second and 16 in the third, making 42 saves on the night and helping Northeastern secure a win despite being outshot 44-15 for the game. "They were shooting from everywhere," Head Coach Dave Flint said of Friday's game at Providence. "They knew that to beat Florence, they'd have to shoot from everywhere. I told the goalies that down the stretch, we'd go with whoever was hot, and Florence was doing cartwheels on her head last night."

With the score tied at one thanks to Northeastern's solid defensive effort, the Huskies took the lead midway through the third period. Kristi Kehoe got the shaft of her stick onto a shot from Kasey Cedorchuk, and deflected the puck over Lacasse's head and in. "I was just trying to deflect it down," said Kehoe of the effort. "All of a sudden I saw it drop in behind her shoulder. I was shocked, but I was so excited."

Providence almost equalized with under eight minutes left, when Laura Veharanta's shot hit the crossbar, and bounced back down to the ice behind Schelling, but the Huskies's goalie fell backwards and covered the puck before it could trickle across the goal line.

Providence eventually got a second goal, from Mari Pehkonen, leaving the game tied with 5:35 to play.

Ali Bielawski scored the go-ahead goal at 16:19 in the third, taking a pass from Lindsay Berman on the right boards, skating in, and beating Lacasse low on the left side.

Providence had a golden opportunity to force overtime when an Alyssa Wohlfeiler penalty at 18:00 gave the Friars a power-play for the last two minutes of the period. Providence called a timeout, then pulled Lacasse, giving them a two-man advantage for 120 seconds. "During the time out, I looked at them and said 'you're all great hockey players. We're gonna get this done,'" Coach Flint shared after the game. Providence kept the puck in Northeastern's zone for most of the final two minutes, but Northeastern was able to keep the puck out of the net and hold on for the win.

With the win, Northeastern now has 13 points in the Hockey East standings, their highest toal since the 2003-04 season. The Huskies take on Boston University in the consolation round of the Beanpot Tuesday at 5 p.m.