FINAL SCORE: Providence 6, Vermont 2
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – UVM junior goalkeeper Melissa Black stopped 45 shots between the pipes, but Vermont dropped its regular season opener with a 6-2 loss at Providence on Sunday afternoon at Schneider Arena.
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Box Score
The Green and Gold open the 2017 campaign at 0-1 overall and in Hockey East play. The Friars improve to 2-0 on the year and begin the league slate at 1-0.
"Providence deserves all the credit today," said head coach Jim Plumer. "Their speed and puck management was far superior to us. Our young team played like a young team and while we didn't execute at the level we want, we will surely use the lessons we gained to get better for next week."
Providence jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after a successful penalty kill with 3:21 left in the first period. Brooke Boquist picked up a rebound from Kathleen McHugh's attempt and buried it from the left side of the crease. Christina Putigna was credited with the secondary assist.
Less than 10 minutes later, Val Caldwell got the Catamounts on the board with her first collegiate goal. Caldwell's unassisted goal knotted the game up at one after streaking down the ice and blasting a shot from below the left circle.
Vermont then jumped out to a 2-1 lead early in the second period thanks to a goal from Daria O'Neill. At 3:59 of the middle frame, Saana Valkama fired a shot on net and O'Neill tapped in the rebound past Providence netminder Madison Myers (11 saves). Ève-Audrey Picard also earned an assist on the score.
The Friars answered less than four minutes later on an unassisted goal by Putigna.
Providence continued its surge as Meaghan Rickard converted a breakaway opportunity with 6:06 remaining in the second period. Rickard skated past UVM's backline, and as she neared the goal the sophomore faked to her left and slipped the puck under the pads of Black.
Hayley Lunny added to the Friars' lead with 3:46 left in the second period. Providence possessed the puck in the Catamounts' zone as Putigna missed wide with an attempt that ricocheted off the boards. The puck kicked out to the right of the goal where Lunny was waiting and netted a one-timer.
The Friars added two more goals in the third period from McHugh and Whitney Dove to seal the win.
Vermont returns to action at UConn on Saturday (Oct. 7) with puck drop set for 2 p.m.
The Windjammer and Upper Deck Pub is the presenting sponsor of the 2017-18 women's hockey season
