PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College women's ice hockey team extended its unbeaten streak to five games, Sunday, cruising past conference rival New Hampshire, 6-2 at Schneider Arena.
Senior Laura Veharanta (La Verne, Calif.) led the way, igniting a three goal barrage to start the game finishing with a score and two assists.
The key portion of the game was the first three minutes
Just 47 seconds into the opening period, senior Ashley Cottrell (Sterling Heights, Mich.) fed classmate Veharanta to the left of the crease. Veharanta was able to stuff in her own rebound on the short side for her sixth of the season and a 1-0 Friar lead.
Two minutes later, at 2:48, sophomore Maggie Pendleton (Woodbury, Minn.) continued her hot streak, firing home a slapshot from the top of the left circle for a 2-0 advantage.
Fast forward just 13 seconds, and senior Abby Gauthier (Lynn, Mass) converted on a great feed from Veharanta for her first of the season. It was 3-0, PC entering the first intermission.
The Friars extended the cushion to 5-0 midway through the second period, courtesy goals by Cottrell at 4:53 (from the left circle), and sophomore Corinne Buie (Edina, Minn.) at 12:55 (a forehand from the right circle).
UNH broke through at the 13:57 mark of the second period, as sophomore Arielle O'Neill accepted a feed from Kristina Lavoie in the slot and wristed it home. It was 5-1, Friars, after two periods.
The teams exchanged scores in the third period. At the 15:12 mark, Friar junior Jessica Vella (Pickering, Ontario) collected her second of the season with a blast from the left of the cage. UNH rounded out the scoring at 18:51. Wildcat sophomore Nicole Gifford converted a Kristina Horn feed from the left circle, top shelf.
Providence goaltender Genevieve Lacasse earned her 54th career victory in net, stopping 20 shots. She is just four wins shy of tying Jana Bugden '07 for the school record.
UNH goaltenders Lindsey Minton and Moe Bradley split time, halting 12 and 18 shots, respectively.
The Friars return to action on Saturday, November 19 when they welcome Vermont to Schneider Arena. Face-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. and tickets are available by calling (401) 865 GOPC or by visiting Friars.com.