March 16, 2002

Box Score

STORRS, CONN. - The Providence College women's hockey team defeated the Northeastern Huskies, 1-0, in ECAC Eastern League Championship game on Saturday, March 16. For the Friars and the Huskies it marked the fifth time the two teams played for the title since the Tournament began 19 years ago. PC, which improved to2-3 all-time against the Huskies in ECAC title games, earned its seventh ECAC crown.

Providence (20-13-4) opened the scoring at the 14:19 mark of the first period when senior forward Jackie Tamsin (Branford, Conn.) collected a loose puck at center ice, skated in alone against Northeastern's goaltender Chanda Gunn and scored her sixth goal of the season. Tamsin's goal would prove to be the game winner and the only tally of the contest. The Friars held a 23-6 shot advantage after two periods, but managed to score just one goal against Gunn, who was stellar in net for the Huskies.

Northeastern (27-8-1) turned up its offense in the third period. At 12:05 of the third NU's Brooke White (Berkley, Calif.) broke through two Friar defenders and wristed a shot that Friar netminder Amy Quinlan (Baton Rouge, La.) caught with her right hand. It would prove to be the Huskies' best scoring opportunity of the game. The Huskies had one more opportunity to even the game when Friar defenseman Meredith Roth (Dubuque, Iowa) was whistled for a tripping penalty with 2:59 remaining in the game. However, the Providence defense withstood Northeastern's surge and held on for the win.

Gunn, who earned the Tournament's MVP honor, finished the game with 30 stops and only allowed one goal in Semifinals and Finals. Quinlan played strong for the Friars, making 10 saves in the win.

"That team came after us tonight," Northeastern Head Coach Joy Woog stated. "They caught us off guard. They are big and play very physical. That team caught magic in a bottle this weekend."

For Head Coach Bob Deraney it marked his first ECAC title at Providence. "We got better and became more of team as the year went on," Deraney said. "Today was our best game of the year against a terrific team. We deserved it tonight, but we beat a very good team!" For Providence, it marks its 11th 20-win season all-time.

All-Tournament Team

Forward - Danielle Culgin, Providence

Forward - Jackie Tamsin, Providence

Forward - Brooke Whitney, Northeastern

Defense - Meredith Roth, Providence

Defense - Kim Greene, Northeastern

Defense - Kelli Halcisak, Providence

Goalie - Chanda Gunn, Northeastern

MVP - Gunn, Northeastern