Dec. 8, 2007

Box Score

Providence, R.I. - The women's ice hockey team was defeated by the Crimson of Harvard University, 4-1, on Saturday evening at Schneider Arena. Providence cut the Crimson lead to 2-1 in the second period, but could not edge closer. With the loss, Providence moves to 6-8-2 (4-2-1 HOCKEY EAST), while Harvard improves to 11-0-0 (10-0-0 ECAC) on the season.

After some up and down play by both sides, Harvard took the lead at 16:24 of the first period when Caitlin Cahow scored a power-play goal for the Crimson, with assists going to Sarah Vaillancourt and Liza Ryabkina.

Harvard continued the scoring at 7:53 of the second when Vaillancourt notched her ninth goal of the season. Then, Katy Beach (Cleveland, Ohio) got the Friars on the board at 13:03. Beach took a pass from Kathleen Smith (Waterloo, Ont.) at the top of the crease, skated to her right and slid the puck past Harvard goaltender Christina Kessler to make the score 2-1. But Harvard answered just 45 seconds later when Ryabkina notched the Crimson's second power-play goal of the game. Jenny Brine closed out the scoring for the game at 17:15 of the second period when she converted on partial break-away attempt.

In net, Kessler made 17 saves to earn the win, while PC's Jennifer Smith (St. Albans, Vt.) made 28 saves in her third career start.

The Friars now enter the winter break. They will return to action Friday, January 4 against the Purple Eagles of Niagara University. The game will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Robert & Concetta Dwyer Arena in Niagara, N.Y.