BOX SCORE

SCHENECTADY, NY - After nearly three weeks away from the ice, the Union College women's ice hockey team fell 5-0 to Providence on Sunday at Messa Rink. Senior Kate Bacon scored the game winner early into the first period, claiming her fifth of the season. The Dutchwomen move to 3-10-1 overall and remain at 1-4-1 in the ECAC, while the Friars are now 7-8-3 and 5-3-1 in the HE conference.

Bacon put Providence on the board at the 18:31 mark, taking a shot off of her own rebound in front of freshman Shenae Lundberg. The forward was initially set up by junior Nicole Anderson, who tallied four points throughout the match.

Union responded with a great chance quickly when senior Kayleigh Melia took a shot from the point to put the puck dangerously close to Providence netminder Genevieve Lacasse. Junior Nicole Bartlett managed to poke the pass underneath Lacasse, where it drifted closely to the goal line before the senior sprawled out and hid it from view.

The Dutchwomen also battled to kill off back-to-back penalites in the first period, and faced a 6-on-4 disadvantage for over 40 seconds on a delayed penalty. Due to pressure from special teams, the Friars failed to capitalize on any of their four power play opportunities.

After a heated second period, Providence struck again when sophomore Corinne Buie put one past Lundberg with six minutes remaining. Anderson gained her second assist as the Friars went up 2-0.

Senior Chelsey Heinhuis nearly cut the deficit in half when she fired a shot from the top right corner. Freshman Bryanne Panchuk set up a nearly perfect play when she spun around to drop the puck back to sophomore Maddy Norton. Norton then quickly passed the puck to Heinhuis, but Lacasse was there to make the save.

Despite breakaway chances from junior Rhianna Kurio and senior Emilie Arseneault, the Dutchwomen could not overcome the Friars.  Providence extended their lead when junior Jessica Vella scored less than a minute into the third period. Bacon and Anderson picked up assists.

In the final four minutes of the game, both freshman Beth Hanrahan and Anderson tallied goals to put the score at 5-0. It was Anderson's first goal of the season.

Lundberg made 27 saves on the evening, while Lacasse earned a shut out with 25 saves. The Friars outshot the Dutchwomen 32-25.

Union is back in action on Tuesday, November 29th, at 7:00 p.m. when they travel to New Hampshire to take on the Wildcats.