PROVIDENCE COLLEGE TOPPLED BY HARVARD, 5-1

Senior forward Ashley Cottrell scores the Friar goal

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College women's ice hockey team fell to visiting Harvard, 5-1, Thursday night at Schneider Arena.

The Crimson was paced by a pair of goals, one shorthanded, by junior Jillian Dempsey. PC senior Ashley Cottrell ( Sterling Heights, Mich.) continued her steady offensive production, tallying her eighth of the season for the lone Friars' goal.

The key period was the first, as the Crimson stormed to a 3-0 cushion. Dempsey converted on the initial strike at 6:16, capitalizing on a return feed from Lyndsey Fry on an odd-man rush. Five and a half minutes later, at 11:45, Dempsey scored again, this time shorthanded and unassisted. Crimson sophomore Elizabeth Parker made it 3-0 visitors at the 19:04 mark.

Cottrell and the Friars clawed back into the contest just 18 seconds into the middle period. The senior redirected a Laura Veharanta (La Verne, Calif.) shot while fighting for position just to the left of the crease. Senior defenseman Jennifer Friedman (San Gabriel, Calif.) also assisted on the play.

Harvard regained the three-goal advantage, however, three minutes later. At the 3:32 mark, the Crimson's Kalley Armstrong collected a PC turnover in the Friar end and scored from the slot, making the score 4-1, Harvard. Fry added an insurance goal 44 seconds into the third to round out the scoring at 5-1.

Friar goaltender Genevieve Lacasse halted 21 shots, while Harvard's Laura Bellamy stopped 23.

The Friars are now off for the semester break, and will return to action on January 6 and 7 when they host Robert Morris for two games. Tickets are available by calling the PC ticket office at (401) 865 GO PC, or by visiting Friars.com.