ROMANCHUK LIFTS PROVIDENCE PAST RENSSELAER IN OVERTIME, 4-3
Sophomore defenseman Lexi Romanchuk scores game-winning goal for Friars

Sophomore defenseman Lexi Romanchuk scored the game-winning goal for the Friars

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College women's ice hockey team captured a 4-3 overtime win against the Rensselaer Engineers on Sunday, Jan. 4 at Schneider Arena. The win improves the Friars record to 8-13-0 on the season and 2-1-0 in overtime games this season.

The Friars jumped out to an early 2-0 lead over the Engineers in the first period of play with goals from junior Beth Hanrahan (Poolesville, Md.) and graduate student Janine Weber (Innsbruck, Austria).

Hanrahan notched her third power-play goal of the season at 5:32 of the period off a feed from sophomore Lexi Romanchuk (San Jose, Calif.). Hanrahan started the play in the offensive zone when she fed a pass to classmate Haley Frade (Marion, Mass.), who rifled the puck across the blue line to Romanchuk. Romanchuk found Hanrahan cross-ice on the backdoor, who fired the puck top-shelf on Engineer goaltender Brianna Piper.

Providence continued to put pressure on the Engineers and picked up another goal at 11:56 of the period. Junior Brooke Simpson (Boxboro, Mass.) rolled out of the corner with the puck and found Frade at the top of the left circle. Frade put the puck on Webers tape in front of the RPI net, Weber capitalized and put the biscuit five hole on Piper. It was Weber's sixth goal of the season, while Simpson and Frade each notched their ninth assists of the season on the play.

At the end of the first period, the Friars dominated the scoreboard, leading in shots, 18-3, and face-offs, 13-8. Friar goaltender Sarah Bryant (Bethlehem, Pa.) stopped all three shots she faced during the period.

Though Providence continued to sustain pressure in the offensive zone, RPI was able to cut the Friars lead to 2-1 with a goal from Lauren Wash at 9:44 of the second period. Wash won the face-off in the Engineers defensive end before carrying the puck into the Friars defensive zone and firing a puck on net that beat Bryant low.

The Friars battled back to reclaim their two goal lead during the period. Romanchuk sent the puck up the ice to classmate Brittney Thunstrom (Coon Rapids, Minn.), who entered the offensive zone on a 2-on-1 with sophomore Courtney Kukowski (Apple Valley, Minn.). Thunstrom baited the defenseman with a spin move before making a backhand pass to Kukowski, who faked a shot and made a move to her forehand around Piper to notch her third goal of the season. It was Romanchuk's second point of the game and 11th of the season, while Thunstrom notched her fifth assist of the season.

RPI notched two goals in the third period, including a buzzer beater in the final second of the period to send the game into overtime. Wash collected both goals for the Engineers to collect the hat trick. Wash's first goal came at 14:21 of the period with a quick stick in front that beat Bryant low. Her second came at 19:59, after redirecting Madison Marzario's shot from the point.

The Friars would enter overtime leading in shots, 33-18, and face-offs, 41-19. Bryant posted seven saves on nine shots during the third period.

Providence turned up the heat immediately entering overtime, keeping RPI out of its defensive end. The Friars would create several chances to score as the clock ticked down before Hanrahan pressured the puck along the offensive boards to knock it free to senior Corinne Buie (Edina, Minn.). Buie moved the puck to Romanchuk on the point as she set a pick for her to rifle a slap shot on net that beat Piper high glove side. It marked the first overtime goal for Romanchuk to capture a career-high three-point game.

Romanchuk was joined by Frade and Hanrahan in claiming multipoint games for the Friars. Frade notched two assists, while Hanrahan collected a goal and an assist in the win.

Providence finished the game with 35 shots on goal, while allowing the Engineers just 18. The Friars also dominated in the face-off circle capturing 43-of-64 face-offs. Bryant finished the game with 15 saves to capture her eighth win of the season.

The Friars return to action Friday, Jan. 10 at New Hampshire. Providence and New Hampshire will be meeting for the second time this season, with the Wildcats holding the edge in the Hockey East series 1-0-0. The puck is slated to drop at 7:00 p.m. at the Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H. The game will mark the first of the final 13 regular season Hockey East games for the Friars.