Providence, R.I. (October 2, 2009) - The Providence College women's hockey team opened the regular season with a 4-0 victory over Maine at Schneider Arena. Four different skaters scored for PC as senior Jean O'Neill (Strafford, Pa.) and freshman Jessica Cohen (Anchorage, Alaska) each tallied a goal and an assist.
Three unanswered second period goals led the way as sophomore Genevieve Lacasse (Scarborough, Ontario) made 19 saves to earn the sixth shutout of her career.
Jessica Cohen (Anchorage, Alaska) opened the scoring at 4:35 in the second period when she found a loose puck in the slot and wristed home her first collegiate goal. Sophomore Lauren Covell (Akron, Ohio) earned her first point as a Friar with the assist. Providence jumped on top, 2-0, at 16:25 with a goal from sophomore Ashley Cottrell (Sterling Heights, Mich.). O'Neill worked the puck to the left corner before sophomore Laura Veharanta (La Verne, Calif.) slid a pass through the crease before Cottrell who lifted the puck under the crossbar. PC added a third at 19:40 when O'Neill picked up the puck in the neutral zone and stickhandled around three Maine defenders before lifting the puck over the left pad of the Maine netminder.
The Friars finished the scoring at 6:22 of the third when senior Arianna Rigano (Malden, Mass.) finished after a pass from Cohen. Providence outshot the Black Bears 25-19 and held Maine to zero shots on three power plays.
The two teams will face off again on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. in Schneider Arena.