STORRS, Conn. - The University of Connecticut women's ice hockey team was blanked by visiting Providence, 2-0, Saturday afternoon at the Freitas Ice Forum. The loss, their fifth straight, dropped the Huskies to 1-10-2 overall and 1-4-0 in Hockey East, while the Friars improved to 4-6-3 and 3-2-1.
Sophomore Nicole Paniccia (Oakville, Ont.) got the call for her sixth start of the season and was tested early. She turned away all 14 shots by Providence in the first period as UConn was outshot 14-1. Six of Paniccia's first period saves came while the Huskies killed off a pair of Friar power plays.
Connecticut and Providence combined for 18 penalty minutes in the second half, but neither could score on the power play. UConn went 0-5, while PC was 0-2. The Huskies managed five shots on the man advantage and the Friars just two.
Between the 6:06 and 11:52 marks, the game was played at less than full strength as one or both sides constantly had a player, or multiple players, in the penalty box.
Providence was able to break through for the first score of the game with a shorthanded goal scored by sophomore Corinne Buie, assisted by junior Jessica Vella, as she was taken to the ice by Connecticut sophomore Kiana Nauheim (Fairbanks, Alaska). Late in the second, the Friars added a second goal. This one was a delayed penalty goal. PC pulled the goalie and senior defenseman Jennifer Friedman found the back of the net to give the Friars a two-goal edge heading into the break.
The third period was much of the same as the Huskies were outshot 10-1 and accumulated 12 minutes worth of penalties. For the game, Providence took seven penalties for 14 minutes and UConn 12 for 24. Coming into the game, Connecticut was last in the league in penalty minutes per game with 7.5.
UConn was held to single digit shots, with nine, for the first time this season. Senior goaltender Genevieve Lacasse stopped all nine shots that came her way. Paniccia totaled 30 saves, her third game of 30 or more saves.
The Huskies are back in action next Saturday when they visit Boston University at 3:00 pm.