Providence Comes from Behind to Top Women's Ice Hockey, 3-2, in Final Game of 2016
Links: Box Score
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Merrimack College women's ice hockey team saw a 2-1 lead in the third period thwarted by two unanswered goals on Friday night as the Warriors dropped a 3-2 loss in Hockey East action at Providence in the Warriors' final game until 2017.
The Basics
Score: Providence 3, Merrimack 2
Records: Merrimack (6-13-2, 2-10-0 HEA) | Providence (9-10-1, 5-6-1 HEA)
Location: Schneider Arena | Providence, R.I.
How It Happened
- The Warriors would get the first momentum swing of the game 5:58 into the first period with Providence taking the first penalty of the game. Merrimack would get some quality offensive zone time on the advantage and nearly take a 1-0 on a scrum in front after a chance for sophomore Paige Voight (St. Michael, Minn.), but would be unable to convert on the first power play of the game.
- Merrimack continued to pressure following the solid power play and saw it pay off just over a minute after the first penalty expired. Sophomore Katelyn Rae (Courtice, Ontario) would rush the puck into the zone for a 2-on-1 chance and deliver a nice feed to classmate Allison Sexton (Stonewall, Manitoba) who beat the goaltender top-right with a nice wrist shot to put Merrimack up 1-0 just before the midway point of the first.
- As the first entered the latter half, the Warriors continued to dominate time of possession, eventually earning back-to-back power plays for the final five minutes of the frame. But strong penalty kills from Providence would hold the score at 1-0 into the second.
- The second period appeared it could mirror the first, but in Providence's favor, as the Warriors took their first penalty just over five minutes into the frame. But Merrimack would get its best scoring chance of the second on the penalty kill on a rush and great wraparound attempt from Voight, Providence's netminder would make an impressive post-to-post save to keep the score at 1-0.
- Providence would tie the game with 5:38 to play in the second on a nice feed from behind the Merrimack net that found a waiting Friar in front for the quick shoot and score to even up the game at 1-1, where it held into the final period.
- Merrimack would retake a 2-1 lead just 2:22 into the third period on a great individual effort from freshman Mikyla Grant-Mentis (Brampton, Ontario) to force a steal, take it in a slide the puck five-hole to put the Warriors back on top.
- The Friars would answer Grant-Mentis' goal just 2:07 later to tie the game back up, and eventually score the game-winner on an effort similar to the rookie's goal at 11:25 of the third. The loss in the period came despite three consecutive power plays and an all-around strong offensive effort in the period.
Inside The Numbers
- Grant-Mentis' goal breaks an 11-game scorless streak after scoring goals in back-to-back games on Homecoming Weekend. She ranks fifth in Hockey East in points with a stat line of 3g-11a-14p.
- Sexton's tally improves her career-high with her third of the season, and now marks two consecutive games with a goal for the sophomore. She ranks fifth on the team with 11 points on the season.
- The Warriors matched their season high with 32 shots on goal on Friday night, a total they set in early November against Northeastern at Lawler Rink.
- Goaltenders: L – Demers (5-9-0, 25 saves) | W – Myers (5-7-1, 30 saves)
- Power Plays: Merrimack (0-6) | PC (0-2)
- SOG: MC – 32 | PC – 28
Up Next
The Warriors will resume action after the winter break on Tuesday, January 3 when they host Vermont for a 7:00 p.m. puck drop in the first contest of the season with the Catamounts.
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