By Jared Sugerman, News Staff

For months, head coach Dave Flint has asked the Northeastern women’s hockey team to play with determination for the duration of each 60 minute game. On Saturday, he found himself asking for only 120 seconds.
With the Huskies (11-15-3, 6-10-1 Hockey East), clinging to a one-goal lead and two minutes remaining in Northeastern’s regular-season series against Providence (16-12-2, 11-5-1), Flint gathered his team during a timeout and told them what he expected.
‘I looked at all of them and said ‘You guys are great hockey players. We’re going to get this done. We’re going to find a way to get it done. Whatever you have to do, get it done. Everyone here has to believe we’re going to win this hockey game,” Flint said.
Though the Friars worked with an empty net and a power play, giving them a 6-on-4 player advantage, they did not beat Northeastern freshman goalie Florence Schelling, who stopped 95 of the 100 shots that were sent her way this weekend. After losing in Providence Friday, 3-2 in overtime, Northeastern secured a 3-2 victory at Matthews Arena Saturday, winning the season-series, 2-1.
‘I’m proud of them for the effort they gave, and Florence obviously was phenomenal,’ Flint said. ‘She gave us a chance and that’s what we need out of our goaltender.’
Sophomore forward Kristi Kehoe scored Northeastern’s second goal of the game Saturday, deflecting a shot from junior defender Kasey Cedorchuk above the shoulder of Providence goaltender Genevieve Lacasse to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead at 9:50 of the third period.
Providence forward Mari Pehkonen then’ beat Schelling’ to tie the game with 5:35 remaining.
On the game-winning play, Kehoe moved in on Lacasse once more, cruising toward the left post as she prepared herself for a pass from senior forward Ali Bielawski. That pass never came, however, as Bielawski finished the 2-on-1 herself, firing a low wrist shot that slipped between Lacasse’s pads and into the net at 16:19 of the final frame.
During the remaining 3:41, Schelling made the last of her 42 stops, including a glove-save on Pehkonen from the bottom of the right faceoff circle with about 50 seconds left to play. Lacasse made 12 saves Saturday.
‘That goalie seemed like she was off,’ Kehoe said following Saturday’s game. ‘I’ve seen her play before.’ I think it probably was just the lack of shots too, but either way I’m just happy that they went in.’
The Huskies’ first goal Saturday was the result of an apparently benign wrist-shot from sophomore defender Julia Marty that flew past Lacasse’s right ear and into the upper-right corner of the cage. Marty’s fourth goal of the season came in her first game since Jan. 24, when she suffered a shoulder injury.
Flint activated 18 skaters for Saturday’s game, after having only 15 healthy players available for games last week in Maine.
Schelling made 53 saves during regulation Friday, surrendering the game-winner when Pehkonen fired the Friars’ 56th shot on goal with one minute remaining in overtime. Providence had rallied from a two-goal deficit in that game, built by goals from junior forward Annie Hogan and Kehoe. Lacasse finished with 22 saves for the game.
‘I feel like we played well but we definitely had a little bit more that we could have given,’ Kehoe said.
The Huskies will play again Tuesday when they host Boston University (14-10-6, 12-6) for the Beanpot consolation game at Matthews Arena.’ The game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., with the championship contest, pitting No. 7 Boston College (18-7-3, 12-5-1) against Harvard University (13-7-3, 12-4-2), slated to start at 8 p.m.
Next weekend, Northeastern will host Vermont (5-23-1, 3-13) for a two-game series’ Saturday and Sunday. Both games start at 2 p.m.