March 4, 2007

Box Score

Durham, N.H. - Providence and New Hampshire put together another classic championship performance as the two HOCKEY EAST powers met again with a title on the line. The Friars, who were making their fourth championship game appearance in the five year history of the tournament, tied the game 1-1 in the second period, but they were unable to hold off UNH, as the Wildcats answered with the go-ahead goal halfway through the second period. UNH added an empty net goal with 26 seconds left to gain the 3-1 victory.

Providence was tested early as they had to kill off a 5X3 UNH power-play in the opening minutes the game, which they did successfully behind four saves by senior goaltender Jana Bugden (Corner Brook, Newfoundland). But at 3:46, as PC's second penalty expired, the Wildcats scored the game's first goal as UNH's Kacey Bellamy took a pass from junior Jennifer Hitchcock and scored on a wrap-around attempt. Bugden made 12 saves in the period to keep the Friars within one, including a tough right pad save on a UNH shot that came from the slot at the 12:47 mark.

The Friars came out in the second period and generated several scoring chances, including a Rachel Crissy (Naperville, Ill.) shot from the top of the crease that UNH goaltender Melissa Bourdon was able to turn aside at 1:46, and a Kristin Gigliotti (Saquoit, N.Y.) drive at 4:04 that Bourdon steered clear with her blocker. Providence kept up the pressure and was able to capitalize at the 6:42 mark when sophomore Mari Pehkonen fed the puck from the center ice face-off circle to classmate Erin Normore (Cambridge, Ont.), who faked Bordon and slid the puck through her legs for PC's equalizer. About three minutes later UNH took advantage of a turnover deep in PC's zone to pull ahead once again when UNH senior Lindsey Caleo beat Bugden from in close at 9:48. The Friars almost pulled even again at the 12:26 mark when some hard work from Crissy led to a partial break-away chance, but a UNH back-checker forced Crissy to shoot the puck wide. And so the teams went to the second intermission with UNH holding the 2-1 lead.

New Hampshire almost added to its one goal lead at 1:29 when freshman Micaela Long received a pass on a two-on-one break and rang a shot off of the post. Bugden was forced to come up big again at 6:32 when she made two consecutive point blank saves against the pressuring Wildcats. The Friars almost drew even at 15:19 when senior Sonny Watrous slid a pass to Brittany Nelson at the bottom of the face-off circles while on a 2 on one break, but Bourdon was able to make a right pad save on Nelson's attempt. The Friars pulled Bugden at 17:42 in favor of the extra attacker, and Pehkonen almost equalized with an off-angle shot that was tipped in front, but Bourdon made the save. UNH's Sam Faber was then able to seal the victory as she scored on the empty net with 26 seconds left in the game. Bugden finished with 34 saves for the Friars, while Bourdon made 18 saves for UNH. Providence ends its season with a 16-16-4 mark, while UNH improved to 28-3-5.

For her efforts, Bugden was named the MVP of the tournament. Over the course of PC's two games, Bugden made 67 saves for the Friars. She is the first player to earn MVP honors while not playing for the championship team. Gigliotti and Pehkonen were also selected to the All-Tournament team, along with Bugden. Gigliotti earned the distinction of being the only unanimous selection among the voters.