Jan. 21, 2006

Box Score

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (January 21, 2006). -- The No. 9 Providence College women's hockey team defeated Northeastern, 5-4, in overtime action at Schneider Arena in Providence, R.I. The Friars improve to 13-7-3 and 7-2-1 in HOCKEY EAST play.

Freshman Katy Beach (Middlebury Heights, Ohio) scored the lone goal of the first period that put Providence on the board at 3:47 on a power play. Sophomore Jenna Keilch (Clinton Township, Mich.) and junior Kristin Gigliotti (Sauquoit, N.Y.) earned assists on the play.

Senior Ashley Payton (Chesterfield, Mo.) netted her 10th goal of the season at 4:39 of the second period. Sophomore Rachel Crissy (Naperville, Ill.) earned her 10th assist while freshman Stephanie Morris (South Burlington, Vt.) was credited with her first collegiate assist. A little over two minutes later, Gigliotti gave Providence a 3-0 advantage at 6:41 with an even-strength goal. Junior Sonny Watrous (Albuquerque, N.M.) assisted on the play, earning her 13th of the year, while senior Karen Thatcher (Douglas, Mass.) earned her 20th.

The Huskies finally got on the board at 14:25 of the second period with a power play goal by Marie Desrosiers. Crystal Rochon and Erin Reil assisted on the play. Northeastern ended the second period and began to pick up momentum when Desrosiers returned the favor to Rochon for her 13th tally of the season. With the goal, Providence continued to hold the advantage, 3-2.

At 13:54, Thatcher netted her team-leading sixth power play goal. Beach earned the assist on the play.

Northeastern called for timeout before pulling the goalie for an extra attacker. Nikki Petrich posted her sixth goal of the season at point blank range of the net at 19:13. Rochon assisted on the goal that pushed the Huskies closer, 4-3.

Twenty seconds later, Reil forced overtime action with her first collegiate goal at 19:33 with an assist from Ashley Bielawski.

The Friars wasted little time in the overtime period, as Thatcher posted her third game-winner of the season at 4:51 with assists from Watrous and Beach.

The Friars outshot the Huskies, 39-33. The Friars went two-for-three on the power play and three-for-five on the penalty kill.

Jana Bugden (Corner Brook, Newfoundland) posted 29 saves, while Marisa Hourihan recorded 34 in the net.

The Friars will travel to Orono, Maine in a conference match-up with the Black Bears on Sunday, January 22 at Alfond Arena. Face-off is slated for 2:00 p.m.