March 12, 2005

Box Score

CAMBRIDGE, MASS (March 12, 2005). -- The No. 9 Providence College women's hockey team advanced to the 2005 Hockey East Finals, as they defeated Boston College, 9-1, at Walter Brown Arena in Boston, Mass. The Friars improve to 5-0 in Hockey East tournament play, and 13-0-1 on the season when leading after the first period. With the 9-1 victory, Providence recorded a league tournament and school team-high record for most goals scored in post season action.

Providence exploded offensively as they had four players with three or more points in the game. Senior Hilary Greaves (Cranston, R.I.) put Providence up 1-0 on the Friars' first shot of the game. Greaves snuck the puck past Eagle netminder Alison Quandt at 2:30 of the first period, assisted by senior assistant captain Emily Gryp (Lexington, Mass.) and junior Katelynn Laffin (Norwell, Mass.). At 8:45, sophomore Sonny Watrous (Albuquerque, N.M.) netted her 20th goal of the season with the assist by junior Karen Thatcher (Douglas, Mass.). At 13:07, the Eagles responded with a goal by Sarah Feldman. Deborah Spillane and Jill McInnis were credited with the assists. Freshman Rachel Crissy tabbed her eighth goal of the season at 17:14 to put Providence up comfortably, 3-1. Kristin Gigliotti (Saquoit, N.Y.) earned her 16th assist of the season on the play. Gigliotti and Thatcher posted their second assists of the game, while Watrous recorded her second goal to end the first period, 4-1.

In the second period, senior Rush Zimmerman (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) fueled the Friar's offensive onslaught as she opened up the period with a power-play goal at 2:08, assisted by Thatcher and Watrous. The Friars struck again at the seven minute mark when Gigliotti posted a goal that put Providence up, 6-1. Senior captain Danielle Bourgette (Anaheim, Calif.) and Laffin assisted on the play. Zimmerman scored her second goal of the night at 11:39 from another Watrous assist. Providence ended the second half with yet another goal at 19:59. The goal was set up by Thatcher and Watrous to Zimmerman with one second left in the period.

Providence never let up in the third period, as Gigliotti posted her second goal of the night with the assist from Thatcher who recorded a single-game and tournament record with her fifth of the night. Zimmerman's second career hat-trick broke the league tournament record set by classmate Hilary Greaves who had two in the semifinals against Connecticut on March 15, 2003. Gigliotti ended the night with two goals and two assists, while Watrous earned five points on two goals and three assists.

The Friars return to action against the No. 3 seed Connecticut in the 2005 Women's HOCKEY EAST Tournament Finals Championship on Sunday, March 13. The championship game will be played at Boston University's Walter Brown Arena at 1:00 p.m. and will be televised on NESN. Providence will look to capture its fourth straight league title, and third consecutive HOCKEY EAST Tournament title.