PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College women's ice hockey team posted a 4-3 come from behind win over the ninth-ranked Boston University Terriers at Schneider tonight (Jan. 17). With the win, the Friars move their overall record to 10-14-0 on the season and 5-6-0 in Hockey East play. The Friars 4-3 win over the Terriers was the first since Dec. 3, 2011, when Providence defeated BU 4-3 at Schneider Arena. The win marks the second time this season the Friars have defeated a top-10 team.
The first period was filled with scoring with the Friars trailing 2-1 at the end of the 20 minute mark. Both team's special teams played a crucial role in the first period, with Boston University notching a power-play goal and the Friars notching a shorthanded tally.
The Terriers were first on the board with a power-play goal from Maddie Elia at 2:09 of the period. Elia tipped a point shot taken by Kaleigh Fratkin, who received the puck from Sarah Lefort off an offensive zone face-off.
Elia gave the Terriers a 2-0 lead at 16:17 of the period with her second goal. Elia received the puck from Lillian Braga and entered the Friars defensive end. Elia made a move around the Friar defender and fired a low shot that beat sophomore goaltender Sarah Bryant (Bethlehem, Pa) five hole.
The Friars cut the Terriers lead in half with a shorthanded tally from junior Beth Hanrahan (Poolesville, Md.) at 18:41 of the period. Providence won a defensive zone face-off to senior Maggie Pendleton (Woodbury, Minn.), who rung the puck around to freshman Cassidy Carels (Bruxelles, Manitoba). Carels and Hanrahan flew through the neutral zone as Carels floated a pass to Hanrahan, who found herself on a breakaway against Terrier goaltender Kerrin Sperry. Hanrahan made a move to her back hand to capture her eighth goal of the season on her second shorthanded goal of the year.
Bryant finished the first period with 12 saves, while Sperry stopped seven shots.
Providence turned up the heat in the second period, out shooting and scoring the Terriers to tie the game at 3-3 with goals from Carels and senior Rebecca Morse (Westfield, N.J.).
The Terriers recaptured their two goal lead at 3:14 of the period with a goal from Lefort. Lefort notched a power-play goal after putting in a rebound shot taken by Braga. Bryant made the initial save for the Friars but could not stop Lefort's second effort in front.
The Friars were not deterred and continued to put pressure on the Terriers. At 11:57 of the second period, Morse notched her third goal of the season with a snipe from the slot. Morse was assisted on the play by junior Haley Frade (Marion, Mass.), who collected the puck from Carels.
With 6:53 remaining in the period, Carels collected a power-play goal to tie the game at three apiece. Frade moved the puck along the wall to sophomore Molly Illikainen (Grand Rapids, Minn.), who fired a shot towards Sperry that Carels was able to redirect out of the air for her 12th goal of the season.
At the end of two periods the Friars trailed in shots 26-21, with Bryant holding 23 saves for Providence.
The Friars continued to sustain pressure on the Terriers throughout the third period outshooting Boston University 12-3 in the third.
Carels collected the game-winning goal with 2:36 left in the final frame while the Friars were on the power play. Providence controlled the puck in the offensive zone before tallying the final goal. Illikainen found Frade on the point, who quickly moved the puck low for Carels to redirect past Sperry. Carels finished the game with a career-best four points on two goals and a career-high two assists. With her assist, Frade notched a career-best three assists game.
Bryant finished the game with 26 saves for her 10th win of the season. Providence went 2-for-6 on the power-play as well as notching its fourth shorthanded goal of the season. The Frairs edged the Terriers 33-29 in shots after three periods of play.
The Friars are back in action with Hockey East play on Sunday, Jan. 19, when they travel to Orono, Maine for a 1:00 p.m. slate with the Maine Black Bears.