X

Fernandez helps Saints women's hockey earn 3-3 draw with Providence

Posted 10/10/11

The St. Lawrence University women's hockey team skated to a 3-3 tie with Providence College on Sunday afternoon in Canton, NY. Junior Brooke Fernandez had both the game-tying goal and an assist in …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Fernandez helps Saints women's hockey earn 3-3 draw with Providence

Posted

The St. Lawrence University women's hockey team skated to a 3-3 tie with Providence College on Sunday afternoon in Canton, NY. Junior Brooke Fernandez had both the game-tying goal and an assist in the non-conference contest.

St. Lawrence remains unbeaten on the young season at 2-0-1, while the Friars move to 0-2-2 despite being outshot 36-27.

"Providence did a nice job of pressuring us throughout the game," said St. Lawrence head coach Chris Wells. "I thought we stayed very composed as a team and showed some resiliency to battle back and get a tie."

The visitors took the early lead when Christie Jensen scored her first of the year at 5:33 of the opening stanza. Jensen's slap shot through traffic got past St. Lawrence rookie goalie Carmen MacDonald, hit the inside of the far post and caromed into the net for a 1-0 Providence lead. Abby Gauthier and Maggie Pendleton assisted on the tally.

The Saints would respond with back-to-back goals only 2:22 apart in the later stages of the first to take a 2-1 lead at intermission. Captain Karell Emard took a pass from Fernandez and centered the puck to sophomore Rylee Smith, who beat Providence netminder Nina Riley from the slot. The goal was Smith's third of the year and came at 17:12.

Senior Vanessa Emond would give the home team a 2-1 lead with 25.8 seconds left in the first on an unassisted breakaway goal, as she cut through the crease and tucked the puck behind Riley for her second goal of the year.

Though the Saints held a 13-7 advantage in shots on goal through 20:00 minutes, the Friars would have the better of the play in the second, outshooting the Saints 12-7. Corinne Buie stuffed a shot from the top of the crease past MacDonald to tie the game at 3:56 of the second. Kate Bacon would then give the Friars a 3-2 lead on the power play at 15:52. The senior forward blasted a one-timer under the cross bar, as Gauthier picked up her third assist of the afternoon.

With the second period winding down, Fernandez skated in against the Providence defense and used a slick move to get off a shot on Riley. Though the goalie made the first save, Fernandez was first to the rebound and buried her second goal of the season with 31.7 left in the stanza, tying the game at 3-3.

The goal swung the momentum in St. Lawrence's favor, as they had a 13-5 advantage in shots in the third period. However, Riley held her ground and turned away several outstanding bids from point-blank range, forcing the 5:00 minute overtime session.

The best chance for either team in overtime went to Fernandez, as she once again carried the puck deep into the Providence end. She rifled a shot that got behind Riley, but clanked off the near post and stayed out of the net. Though the Friars would have a power play during the final 1:35 of overtime, MacDonald and the St. Lawrence defense helped their team earn the 3-3 tie.

Providence finished 1-of-5 on the power play, while the Saints were 0-for-4. Riley closed with 33 saves in the contest in her first start of the season and MacDonald turned in a 24-save performance.

St. Lawrence will have next week off before returning to action on Tuesday, October 18 when the Saints visit Niagara University at 7:00pm.