NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - Senior forward Paige Voight tallied her first multi-goal game of the season Saturday night, but the Merrimack College women's ice hockey team could never get ahead of Providence College, falling 5-3 in the second game of three this season.
The loss is just the third of the season for the Warriors, who fall to 9-3-2 on the season and 6-3-1 in Hockey East play.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 3, Providence 5
Records: Merrimack (9-3-2, 6-3-1 HEA) | Providence (10-2-0, 7-1-0 HEA)
Location: Lawler Rink | North Andover, Mass.
Scoring Summaries
Goal #1 (1-0 PC) - It took the Friars nearly 40 minutes to find the net Friday night; Saturday was a different story. A great feed through the neutral zone from Sara Hjalmarrson caught the tape of Cassidy MacPherson; a two-on-one in front of the net led to a dump pass to senior Emily Landry, who capitalized to give Providence its first lead of the night just eight minutes into the game.
Goal #2 (1-1) - With 15 minutes left in the second period, the Warriors' fourth power play turned the game level. Senior Dominique Kremer and freshman Julia MacLean teamed up to feed senior Paige Voight just outside the crease, who beat Providence netminder Madison Myers.
Goal #3 (2-1 PC) - The Friars responded just minutes later. With 12 minutes left in the second, the visitors retook the lead after a shot from Ariane Julien was tipped in by senior Christina Putigna; her sixth of the season.
Goal #4 (3-1 PC) - With just over five minutes left in the period, the Friars netted its second goal of the frame. A shot just outside the far faceoff circle was deflected in; credit was given to senior Kate Friesen, with the assist to Avery Fransoo and Cassidy MacPhrerson.
Goal #5 (3-2 PC) - The Warriors were determined not to go away quietly, and it was the senior that started the rally; Voight netted her second of the game when sophomore Dominika Laskova slotted her a pass from behind the net.
Goal #6 (4-2 PC) - With just under 10 minutes left in regulation, the Friars took away Merrimack's offensive spark with a crucial go-ahead goal. Maureen Murphy tallied her 11th of the season on a feed from Christina Putigna.
Goal #7 (5-2 PC) - Two minutes later, Murphy buried another; a pass from Putigna put the sophomore in a one-on-one position with goalkeeper Samantha Ridgewell, and the baar-down shot tallied the fifth of the game.
Goal #8 (5-3 PC) - With three minutes left, the Warriors knocked in its third goal of the game, attempting to mount a major comeback. Senior Katelyn Rae finished off a pass from Kremer and Kiki Roust, cutting the game within two. It would prove to be the final tally, however, as Providence locked down in the final two minutes.
Notes and Numbers
- After seeing the Friars back-to-back, Merrimack won't play Providence again until February 1st at home.
- Saturday's game proved to be the first multi-goal performance for Voight, who now has 38 career goals.
- The Warriors committed just one penalty all game, the lowest this season.
- Goaltenders: Samantha Ridgewell (16 saves, 9-3-2) // Madison Myers (17 saves, 10-2-0)
- Power Plays: 1-3 // 0-1
- Shots on Goal: 6-6 // 4-8 // 7-10 - 20-21
Up Next
Merrimack will take two days rest before returning to action Tuesday, November 20. A 6 p.m. start is slated, where the Warriors will take on Quinnipiac on the road.
