WORCESTER, Mass. – The Holy Cross women's ice hockey team was upended 4-1 by Providence Tuesday evening in Hockey East action at the Hart Center Rink.

The win snaps a seven game slide for the Friars (9-12-5, 6-11-2, HE) while the Crusaders tumble to 3-23-0, 1-20-0 HE. For Providence, Caroline Peterson was named the first star of the game scoring two goals in the win. Sophomore Bryn Saarela notched the only Holy Cross tally in the matchup.

THE GOALTENDERS: Senior Jada Brenon: 2-18-0, 29 saves, .879 save percentage; Sandra Abstreiter: 5-9-3, 37 saves, .973 save percentage.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Crusaders attacked the net and accumulated 19 shots on goal in the first period compared to the Friars' 10. Some of their best chances came with about seven minutes left when a Providence player was without her stick and somehow cleared the puck out of the crease and open part of the cage.
• PC entered the scoring column on the power play in the early stages of the second. The Friars cycled the puck, put a shot on the net then the loose puck was corralled by Hayley Lunny who immediately flung it on goal. The rebound was cashed home by Caroline Peterson 1:50 into the frame. With 2:45 left in the second, Holy Cross drew an interference call and their special teams went to work. 45 seconds into the advantage the Crusaders had multiple scoring chances off rebounds in the front of the crease, but they couldn't capitalize on the power play.
• 5:32 into the third, junior Mary Edmonds tried to sneak the puck past the right post but was stonewalled by Abstreiter. The Crusaders had to overcome a 5-on-3 penalty kill at the 12:15 mark. Seconds later, Hunter Barnett tipped in the free puck in a scrum near the left post to expand the Friars margin to 2-0.
• Penalties kept piling up for each team as the Crusaders went on a 4-on-3 opportunity which led to a 5-on-3 chance when they cleared the penalty box. On the advantage, Holy Cross ripped a puck from the right slot and sophomore Bryn Saarela squeaked the rebound by the netminder to bring the deficit to 2-1 with 9:51 left. PC put together a two-goal lead minutes later and an empty net goal late to take the contest.

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• After recording 19 shots on goal in the first period, the Crusaders only mustered 18 through the final 40 minutes.
• Senior captain Carlie Magier recorded a point in her fourth straight contest. She leads the team with 11 points.

 
UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders head to Providence on Saturday and Schneider Arena for the middle game of the series and a 2:00 p.m. matinee puck drop.