#9 Providence Women’s Hockey Wins Sixth Straight Game, Sweeping Merrimack

The No. 9 Providence College women’s hockey team defeated Merrimack College, 4-1, on Saturday, Dec. 3 at Schneider Arena. The Friars win over Merrimack marks their sixth-consecutive victory as the team improves to 15-4-1 (11-3-1 Hockey East).

SCORE
Providence – 4 | Merrimack – 1

RECORDS
Providence – 15-4-1 (11-3-1 HEAW) | Merrimack – 5-12-1 (4-11-1 HEAW)

VENUE
Schneider Arena | Providence, R.I.

GAME FLOW & NOTES

-The Friars’ Reichen Kirchmair (Oakville, Ontario) netted unassisted goal on a breakaway 1:28 into the first period.

-Kirchmair’s goal marks her 10th of the season.

-Providence carried a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

-Both teams skated through the second period scoreless.

-Noemi Neubauerova (Prague, Czech Republic) kicked off an action packed third period with a goal at the 2:32 mark. Sara Hjalmarsson (Bankeryd, Sweden) assisted on the goal.

-Two minutes later Rachel Weiss (Calgary, Alberta) deepened the Friars lead to 3-0 when she netted a goal with help from Lily Martinson (Allen, Texas) and Lauren DeBlois (Lewiston, Maine)

-At the 9:00 mark of the third period, Madison Oelkere scored Merrimack’s lone goal unassisted.

-Hjalmarsson returned 12:47 into the final period with the Friars’ last goal, bringing the score to 4-1. Caroline Peterson (East Falmouth, Mass.) and Claire Tyo (Massena, N.Y.) were each credited with an assist.

-Sandra Abstreiter (Freising, Germany) finished the day with 15 saves.

-The win over Merrimack gives the Friars their sixth-consecutive win.

STAT COMPARISON
Providence –
Shots: 42
Face-offs: 35/21
Power plays: 0/5
Penalty Kill: 1/1

Merrimack –
Shots: 16
Face-offs: 21/35
Power plays: 0/1
Penalty Kill: 5/5

PC GAME HIGHS
Shots: DeBlois (8)
Goals: Kirchmair, Hjalmarsson, Neubauerova, Weiss (1)
Assists: Hjalmarsson, Martinson, DeBlois, Peterson, Tyo (1)
Points: Hjalmarsson (2)

UP NEXT
The Friars will face No.4 Quinnipiac University for a home-and-home series on Friday, Dec. 9 at Schneider Arena and Saturday, Dec. 10 in Hamden, Conn.

For more updates on the Providence women’s hockey program, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram @PCWHockey.