University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Providence
Women's Ice Hockey Season Ends with 3-0 Loss at Providence
3/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
February 28, 2009
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The University of Connecticut women's ice hockey team saw its season come to end with a 3-0 loss at Providence on Saturday afternoon. In the first quarterfinal in Women's Hockey East Tournament history, the Friars will advance to play either No. 1 seed New Hampshire or No. 2 seed Boston College in Durham next weekend.
The game started with Providence's Laura Veharanta scoring a fluke goal with just 14 seconds on the clock. Veharanta got the first shot of the game past freshman goalie Alexandra Garcia (Pointe-Claire, Que./Montreal Axion NWHL). Garcia was in goal to start the game for just the sixth time this season.
On their first power-play opportunity of the game, the Huskies maintained control of the puck for a majority of the time and had several significant scoring opportunities before the Friar's penalty killing broke up the UConn momentum.
With a seven-to-four advantage in shots on goal, UConn entered its first penalty killing situation of the game after a body checking call on Sami Evelyn (Nepean, Ont./NCCP Ottawa Inter.). Mari Pehkonen, looking to extend the Friar lead, was unable to get the puck away and the Huskies limited Providence to just one shot on goal.
UConn trailed by one (1-0) going into the first intermission and had the advantage in shots, 9-7.
At 15:41, UConn and Providence skated with four to aside after Brianna Uliasz (Chalfont, Pa./Taft School) was put in the box after the Friars were already serving their first penalty of the second period. Cristin Allen (Pickering, Ont./Durham Lightning AA) had two chances to tie the game that were stopped by Providence's Genevieve Lacasse.
The Huskies escaped with their second penalty kill despite a close call in the waning seconds of the power play. Garcia made a pad save on Alysee Ruff and followed with another moments later on Pehkonen. Weber took it from coast to coast only have her shot kicked aside by Lacasse as the Huskies pressured the Friars in their own zone.
The Friar's attempt to clear the puck out of their own zone failed, not once but twice, as the Huskies had arguably their best scoring opportunities of the second period inside the final four minutes of the second period. Michelle Binning (Oshawa, Ont./Toronto Jr. Aeros Inter. AA) and Allen both had quality chances to tie the game.
Jody Sydor (St. Alberta, Alta./Sturgeon Composite) broke up Christine Jensen's chance to score as time expired with the game still, Providence 1-0. The Friars had 20 seconds remaining in their power play to start the final period of regulation.
In the third period, UConn continued to be outshot by the Friars with Erin Normore hitting the back of the net on a wrap-around at 10:10. Following the second goal, Providence continued to determine the pace of play throughout the third as the Huskies struggled to get out of their own zone.
Dominique Thibault (L'Orignal, Ont./Montreal Axion NWHL) was able to break the Providence defense, going in on Lacasse challenged by a pair of Friar defenders. Thibault's got the backhand away with freshman goalie making the save.
The Friars sealed the deal with an empty-net at 2:56, winning the game 3-0.
Game Notes
- Connecticut now has a 1-6 record in the Hockey East Tournament and a 0-4 record against Providence in the post season.
- The Huskies have made the Hockey East Tournament for the past three-straight seasons.
- This is just the fourth time the Huskies have been shutout by an opponent and just the second time it has happened against a Hockey East opponent.
