Feb. 26, 2005

Box Score

Durham, N.H. (February 26, 2005). -- The Providence College women's hockey team skated to a tie with No. 8 New Hampshire, 3-3, at the Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H. The Friars improve to 12-0-1 when leading after the first period of play.

The Friars came out strong as they struck first on the scoreboard. Junior Karen Thatcher (Douglas, Mass.) notched her 21st goal of the season at 6:50 of the first period, with the assists by sophomore Sonny Watrous (Albuquerque, N.M.) and freshman Kathleen Smith (Waterloo, Ontario). At 10:50, Jennifer Hitchcock rallied back for the Wildcats with her ninth goal of the season. Lindsey Caleo and Diana Saly assisted on the play. Junior Katelynn Laffin (Norwell, Mass.) put Providence up, 2-1, with her seventh goal of the season at 11:12. Senior Rush Zimmerman (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) captured her team-leading 28th assist of the season, while Watrous posted her second of the night and 15th on the season.

Stephanie Jones of New Hampshire posted the lone goal in the second period at 9:32, to tie the game, 2-2. Leah Craig and Nicole Hekle assisted on the play.

At 8:09 of the third period the Wildcats gained the lead for the first time, 3-2, while Caleo posted her second assist of the game. Freshman Rachel Crissy (Naperville, Ill.) posted her first career game-tying goal at 14:03 to force overtime action.

Neither team was able to put the puck in the net as they both had two opportunities in the overtime period.

New Hampshire outshot Providence, 34-27, while the Friars special teams went 7-8 allowing only one goal on the power play.

Friar netminder Amy Thomas (Austin, Texas) stopped a game-high 31 shots, including 12 in the third period. Melissa Bourdon captured 24 for the Wildcats.

Providence will finish out the back end of the home-and-home series against New Hampshire on Sunday, February 27 at PC's Schneider Arena in Providence, R.I. The puck drops at 2:00 p.m.