By Jared Sugerman
A quest that began more than a month ago in the Land of a Thousand Lakes finally ended two nights ago in the Ocean State.
The women’s hockey team, who began its season Oct. 5 in Minnesota, nabbed its first victory of the year Tuesday, downing Hockey East foe Providence 5-4.
“I think it’s a start,” said head coach Laura Schuler. “I feel like we’ve been on the right track since the get-go. Hopefully it gives everybody a little bit more confidence that we can come out on top.”
While the Huskies headed into the season with an exhibition win against the Mississauga Junior Chiefs Sept. 29, the team suffered six losses and one tie to open the season before winning Tuesday.
The Huskies came out strong Tuesday, netting three goals in the first frame. These goals came from young players: freshman forward Kristi Kehoe, sophomore forward Annie Hogan and freshman forward Lori Antflick, scored one apiece.
Near the end of the first, Providence got on the scoreboard to bring the game within two goals. In the second, Providence netted another two unanswered, bringing the game to a halt at three a piece.
With the game still tied midway through the third period, sophomore forward Chelsey Jones scored two goals in 56 seconds. The second goal, which came at 10:48 off an assist from Kehoe, would prove to be the game-winner for the Huskies, as the Friar netted one more.
Jones, who led the team in scoring as a freshman with 16 goals and 11 assists last year, had been held without a goal since a 4-3 loss Oct. 12 at Quinnipiac. She now has four goals and two assists this season.
Kehoe, who suffered an undisclosed injury Nov. 3 at Rensselaer, was back on the ice to net a goal. She capitalized on a power-play opportunity at 13:08 of the first period to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead, and is now the team’s leading scorer with five goals and five assists.
Hogan’s goal in the first period was her second goal of the year and Antflick’s was her first career lamp-lighter. Hogan’s tally came just 13 seconds after Kehoe’s.
In the second frame, the Friars bombarded the Northeastern net with 16 shots, beating freshman goaltender Leah Sulyma twice in the waning minutes of the period to tie the game at three.
After mustering only four shots during the second period, Northeastern turned the tables on Providence, unleashing its own 16-shot barrage in the third. After falling down by two, Providence was able to cut its deficit to one at the 11:27 mark of the final frame, but the Huskies held on for the victory.
This strong showing saw the Huskies convert on three of nine power-play opportunities. The Northeastern defense proved strong as well, holding the Friars to just one goal in their seven power-plays.
Sulyma played a strong match, collecting 31 saves off 35 shots. Northeastern’s offense generated 29 shots on net.
With the win, the Huskies dealt Providence its sixth loss of the season. Northeastern’s overall season record improved to 1-6-1, but they are 1-1 in Hockey East play.
This record is good enough to place the Huskies fifth in the conference. One team below Northeastern in the standings is cross-town rival Boston University.
The Huskies will host Wayne State for two games this weekend. Opening face-offs are scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m., both at Matthews Arena.
The teams have not faced off against each other since the 2002-03 season, when Wayne State blanked Northeastern 2-0 in back-to-back games. However, Wayne State enters the matchup after dropping both games this past weekend to St. Lawrence.
