ATTENTION SPORTS        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 1, 2001        Contact Bob Rothwell
        (401) 865-2201

PROVIDENCE HOCKEY DEFEATS MERRIMACK, 4-1
Freshman goaltender David Cacciola wins first career game with career-high
33 saves

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Providence College men's hockey team defeated
Merrimack College, 4-1, in a HOCKEY EAST contest on Saturday, December 1 at
PC's Schneider Arena behind PC freshman goaltender David Cacciola
(Burlington, Mass.), who made his first career start and won the contest
with a career-high 33 saves.
        Ryan Kiley got the scoring started in the first period, give Merrimack a
1-0 lead with 2:04 remaining in the period. Providence answered in the
second period when sophomore Peter Zingoni (Newtown, Conn.) tied the contest
at 1-1, when he flipped the puck over MC's Joe Exter and into the goal.
Senior center Peter Fregoe (Massena, N.Y.) scored what proved to be the
game-winner off assists from freshman Eric Lundberg (Vernon, Conn.) and
junior Jon DiSalvatore (South Windsor, Conn.). Sophomore defenseman Jason
Platt (Ludlow, Mass.) fired a shot from the point past everyone and into the
goal.
        In the third period, Merrimack fired 13 shots on Cacciola, including Ryan
Cordeiro's penalty shot after Lundberg pulled him down with 4:39 remaining.
Cacciola made a great save on Cordeiro's attempt at the near post.
DiSalvatore added the clincher with 1:37 remaining when he iced the puck
into the empty Merrimack goal.
        Cacciola earned his first collegiate victory, allowing one goal and making
33 saves. Exter stopped 23 saves in the loss.
        The Friars return to action on Friday, December 7 when they host Quinnipiac
University at 7:00 p.m. in Schneider Arena.

Saturday, December 1, 2001
Schneider Arena, Providence, R.I.
Merrimack College (5-9-0/1-6-0) 1       0       0       --1     0-2     4-8
Providence College (6-9-1/4-6-0)        0       3       1       --4     0-3     4-8

Per     Time    Team    Goal Scorer  (Assists)
1       17:56   MC      Ryan Kiley (Marco Rosa, Nick Torretti)
2       7:11    PC      Peter Zingoni (Jon DiSalvatore, Jeff Mason)
2       8:17    PC      Peter Fregoe (Eric Lundberg, Jon DiSalvatore)
2       15:28   PC      Jason Platt (Drew Omicioli, Michael Lucci)
3       18:23   PC      Jon DiSalvatore (Doug Wright, Devin Rask) EN

Saves:
Joe Exter (MC)  9       8       6       -- 23   (59:39)
David Cacciola (PC)     6       14      13      --33    (60:00)

Attendance: 1,625 (Schneider Arena)