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Box Score
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Goaltending stole the show in game one of Friday night's Hockey East Quarterfinal matchup between Providence College and the Merrimack College women's ice hockey program, but two late Friar goals put the host team ahead in the three-game set, taking game one 2-0.
It was a slower paced start than both teams are acclimated to, but senior goaltender
Samantha Ridgewell held down the fort and produced fourteen saves through the opening twenty minutes. After a scoreless second period, the Friars put the game's first goal on the board. Meaghan Rickard scored her ninth goal of the season with eight minutes left in the third on a backdoor pass from Maureen Murphy, putting late pressure on the Warriors. With under a minute left in regulation, Providence iced the game with an empty-netter, giving the hosts a 1-0 advantage in the series.
Ridgewell made 30 saves between the pipes for the Warriors, making a handful of highlight-reel stops in the process.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 0, PC, 2
Records: Merrimack (16-12-7, 12-10-5 HEA) | PC (23-12-2, 16-9-2 HEA)
Location: Schneider Arena | Providence, R.I.
Scoring Summaries
- Goal #1 (1-0 PC) – The Friars were able to strike first after holding the puck inside Merrimack's end for an extended period of time. Maureen Murphy fed a wide open Meaghan Rickard on the back post, and she didn't miss the open opportunity.
- Goal #2 (2-0 PC) – Providence iced the game with an empty-better with under a minute left in the third. Christina Putigna buried her fourteenth of the season, giving the Friars a 2-0 lead and the first win of the series.
Notes and Numbers
- Samantha Ridgewell has made 30+ saves in every playoff game she's appeared in.
- Merrimack had 17 blocked shots on the evening, the second-most all season.
- Goaltenders: Samantha Ridgewell (30 saves, 15-10-7) // Madison Myers (17 saves, 23-12-2)
- Power Plays: 0-2 // 0-2
- Shots on Goal: 5-14 // 6-8 // 6-9 – 17-31
Up Next
The Warriors return to Schneider Arena for game two of the Hockey East Quarterfinals, playing in a must-win scenario. Puck drop is slated for 6 p.m.
