PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College women's hockey team posted a 4-1 loss against Northeastern University, splitting the weekend series. With Saturday's loss at Schneider Arena, the Friars record changes to 4-4-0 overall and 1-1-0 in Hockey East play, as the team recorded its first conference loss of the season.
Through the first 20 minutes of action, the Huskies scored the only goal of the period. Chelsey Goldberg started the play that led to the goal when she drove towards the Providence net around a PC defender and got off a backhand shot that was saved by sophomore Sarah Bryant (Bethlehem, Pa.). Goldberg collected her own rebound and connected a pass to Paige Savage who was stationed in the left face-off circle. Her shot beat Bryant at the 11:13 mark in the first period to give Northeastern a 1-0 lead. For the second time in as many games, the Friars trailed by one goal following the conclusion of the first period. Even though Providence found themselves in a deficit after the first period, they outshot the Huskies 12-4 in the frame.
The Huskies extended their lead over the Friars, as they added a second goal in the middle period. Kelly Wallace skated into the Friars zone cleanly on a breakaway and fired a shot that went past Bryant to put the Huskies ahead 2-0 at 8:25 of the second period. Maggie Brennolt registered the only assist on the play.
At 14:39 of the third period, the Friars deficit was cut in half when freshman Liv Halvorson (Richfield, Minn.) scored her first career goal. Her shot from the blue line made its way through traffic and eventually made its way past Northeastern goaltender Chloe Desjardins to put the Friars on the board. Junior Haley Frade (Marion, Mass.) and senior Maggie Pendleton (Woodbury, Minn.) each notched an assist on Halvorson's goal. However, Northeastern had a quick response to regain the two-goal lead with a goal at 15:07. Lucie Povova capitalized on a 2-on-1 play up the ice, beating Bryant on the play to put the score at 3-1.
In the final minutes of play, the Friars tried to find the equalizer as they had a late power play but could not get another puck past Desjardins. Providence had pulled Bryant in the remaining moments of play in favor of having an extra skater on the ice but Kelly Wallace netted one last goal for Northeastern into the open net at 18:23 to secure a 4-1 win over the Friars.
Both teams were perfect in the game on the penalty kill as the Friars went 7-for-7 and the Huskies went 6-for-6. Despite the loss, the Friars outshot Northeastern 31-17, including 12-8 in the final period. Providence also held the advantage in faceoffs winning 40 out of 68 during the game.
Bryant made 13 saves in the loss for the Friars, while Desjardins made stopped 30 shots for the Huskies in the game.
The Friars return to the ice next weekend with a home-and-home series against Boston College, beginning with a game on Friday, Nov. 1 at 7:00 p.m. at Schneider Arena. The teams will wrap up the Hockey East series on Sunday, Nov. 3 with a 2:00 p.m. start in a game hosted by Boston College.