University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Providence
UConn Falls To Providence, 4-3 At Rentschler Field
2/13/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
Feb. 13, 2011
UConn vs. Providence at Rentschler Field Photo Gallery
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. - UConn's Kelly Horan (Methuen, Mass.) scored the final goal of the game, but the Huskies' third period rally fell short, as the Providence Friars earned a 4-3 victory today at Rentschler Field. Today's contest was part of UConn Day at the Whaler's Hockey Fest, and was played outdoors at Rentschler Field.
The Friars got out to a 1-0 lead after the first period, scoring at the 8:56 mark. The Friars controlled play for the majority of the first period, recording eight shots on net and allowing UConn to get off just two shots on goal.
The Friars added to their lead when they scored again just three minutes into the second period, to take a 2-0 advantage. UConn responded though, as Maude Blain (Magog, Que.) and Jenny Saxon (North Plymouth, Minn.) recorded back-to-back goals to even the game at 2-2.
The Huskies' first goal came after the UConn defense collected the puck and sent it up the ice to Taylor Gross (Colorado Springs, Colo.) who was in the right faceoff circle. Gross then fed Blain who was coming into the low slot and fired off a shot that beat Genevieve Lacasse to the right post to bring the Huskies within one, 2-1.
Saxon notched her first collegiate goal just six minutes later when she put the puck in the back of the net from the bottom of the left faceoff circle after classmate Jenna Welch (Austin, Texas) found her with the open shot. Welch fed Saxon from the top of the right faceoff circle, sending the puck through two Friar defenders to knot the game at 2-2 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the second period.
The tie would not last long though, as Providence answered with another pair of goals before the end of the second period. PC's Laura Veharanta recorded two goals, two minutes apart to give the Friars a 4-2 lead after two periods.
After coming out strong in the third period, the Huskies rallied for their third goal of the game at the 4:44 mark as Horan capitalized on a power play opportunity. Gross tallied her second assist of the game when she found Horan at the right corner of the net from the opposite side of the goal. Horan was able to slide the puck past Lacasse, recording her ninth goal of the year, to bring the Huskies within one again, 4-3.
That would be as close as the Huskies would get though, as the Friars were able to hold of the UConn offense for the remaining 16 minutes, ending the game with a 4-3 victory.
On the night, Alexandra Garcia (Pointe-Claire, Que.) made 27 saves, while Lacasse made 20 for the Friars.
The Huskies will conclude the regular season next weekend when the play a home-and-home series with Northeastern on Saturday (Feb. 19) and Sunday (Feb. 20). UConn will travel to Northeastern on Saturday for a 4:00 p.m. contest and will then host NU at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday in what will serve as Senior Day for Jody Sydor, Brittany Murphy and Jennifer Chaisson.
