Women’s Hockey Takes On Nittany Lions

by The Cowl Editor on October 24, 2019


Friar Sports


Friars Struggle in First Game, Manage a Tie in Second

By Sullivan Burgess ’20

Sports Staff

providence college women's ice hockey team Maureen Murphy Avery fransoo Hayley lunny
Nicholas Crenshaw ’20/the Cowl

Last weekend, the Providence College Women’s Hockey Team faced Pennsylvania State University in a non-conference, weekend series. Coming into the matchup, the Friars sat at a 2-1-1 record, while Penn State boasted a record of 2-2-2.

This is the second time in the last year the Friars have faced Penn State, with last years games being played on the Nittany Lions’ home ice. The teams split last year’s series to the tune of a 3-2 Friar victory in overtime, and a 3-5 loss the next day. 

Before the game, the team focused on competing with full effort for all three periods. Avery Fransoo ’20 emphasized how the team was looking to take numerous shots. Fransoo stated, “More shots lead to more chances, and we need to do our best to take advantages of any given situation.”

The first game had a rough start as the first goal from Penn State was scored in the first period off of a five-on-three power play. Penn State shut out the Friars up until the third period, when Maureen Murphy ’21 scored her third goal of the year, pushing the score to 3-1. Then, a second goal was scored by Sara Hjalmarsson ’22, for her third goal of the year, assisted by Murphy and Hayley Lunny ’21, putting the game to 3-2.

In the end, the game went to Penn State with a 2-4 loss for the Friars.  The Friars outshot Penn State 33-26. They took what they learned in this game into the next day.

The second game against Penn State had the Friars dominating throughout, constantly taking shots. At the end of the first period, Penn State was on top with a 2-1 lead, with the sole Friars goal coming from Chloe Gonsalves ’21. The game ended in a 2-2 tie, including the game-tying goal by Murphy for her fourth goal of the season.

Friars goalie Clare Minnerath ’20 finished the game with 15 saves, and the team once again led in shots 31-17.

The next matchup for the Friars puts them up against Hockey East rival Northeastern University for their first conference matchup of the season. Looking ahead,  Fransoo stated, “We want to take each game one at a time and focus on every shift in the period, as for Northeastern we want to focus on bringing an effort into the practices and transfer all that high and aggressive energy into the game and secure a win.”

When asked about any advice she has given to the incoming freshman class, Fransoo talked about the importance of the players having an open-mind. So, too, did she speak to how it has been a great yet huge adjustment for them, as they get used to new coaches and a new collegiate system of play.