March 18, 2005

Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The Providence College women's ice hockey team fell to No. 1 Minnesota, 6-1, in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Championship on Friday, March 18 at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minn. It marked the Friars' first-ever appearance at the NCAA Championship in women's ice hockey. Junior Katelynn Laffin (Norwell, Mass.) scored PC's lone goal in the game.

The Friars took an early 1-0 lead just 4:42 into the game as Laffin scored her eighth goal of the season off assists from Hilary Greaves (Cranston, R.I.) and Emily Gryp (Lexington, Mass.). Greaves passed the puck to Gryp, who took the Friars' initial shot. Laffin picked up the loose puck off the save and knocked it past Minnesota's goalie. The goal came during the Friars' first power-play opportunity. The Gopher's scored two unanswered goals to close out the first period with a 2-1 lead. Becky Wacker struck first on a breakaway from 10-yards out, placing the puck beneath PC's Amy Thomas (Austin, Texas) at the 13:10 mark. The Gopher's second goal was on the power-play at 14:45 as Kelly Stephens connected on a hard shot into the upper right hand corner of the net. It was assisted by Krissy Wendell and Natalie Darwitz.

Minnesota opened the second period with a score just 2:41 into the action. Erica McKenzie drove a slap-shot into upper left hand corner, unassisted, to give the Gophers a 3-1 lead. Two minutes later, Stephens earned her second goal of the game at the 4:42 mark, with Darwitz and Wendell on the assists. Stephens deflected a pass into the lower left-hand side of the goal, giving Minnesota a 4-1 advantage. The two teams were scoreless the remainder of the period.

In the third period, Minnesota took a 5-1 lead with a power-play goal just two minutes into action. The Gophers had a two-player advantage on the power-play, as Ross collected a rebound in front of net and knocked a low shot into the goal. Chelsey Brodt and Darwitz were credited with assists on the play. Ross scored her second goal of the game at the 15:47 mark to give Minnesota a 6-1 lead, as she one-timed a pass that came from behind the cage. Wendell and Noelle Sutton earned the assists.

Thomas collected a season-high 33 saves in goal for the Friars. Jody Horak made 14 saves in goal for Minnesota. The Gophers out-shot Providence, 39-15. The Friars converted one-of-five attempts on the power-play, while Minnesota scored on two-of-five opportunities.