March 15, 2002

Box Score

STORRS, CONN. -- The Providence College women's ice hockey team upset the second-ranked team in the nation on Friday, March 15 with a 3-2 win in the ECAC Eastern Hockey League Semifinals at UConn Ice Arena in Storrs, Conn.

The Purple Eagles entered the Semifinals as the No. 1 seed after defeating Quinnipiac, 8-1, in a one-game Quarterfinal on March 8 in Niagara, N.Y. Providence, which finished fourth in the ECAC Eastern League regular-season standings, defeated Maine, 5-3, in its Quarterfinal matchup on March 9 to earn its Semifinal matchup with Niagara.

After a scoreless first period, Niagara tallied the first goal of the game at the 6:25 mark of the second period when Teresa Del Monte pushed in a rebound from the top of the crease. With 1:13 remaining in the second period, PC freshman Hilary Greaves evened the score at 1-1 when she wristed home a shot from five feet in front of the net. Niagara scored their final goal of the night at 8:15 of the third period on a tally by Brooke Bradburn. However, Friar rookie Rush Zimmerman scored the tying goal with 8:27 remaining in regulation.

Neither team was able to score in the first 20 minute overtime.

At 1:06 of the second overtime, junior forward Danielle Culgin scored for the Friars to advance the squad to its first ECAC Championship game since 1996.

PC goaltender Amy Quinlan recorded 31 stops in the win. Tania Pinelli registered 43 stops for the Purple Eagles.

Providence (19-13-4) will attempt to capture its seventh ECAC title on Saturday, March 16 when it faces Northeastern (27-6-1) at 7:00 p.m. at the UConn Ice Arena.