Amidst the architectural melting pot of the western world, also known
as the Brown athletic campus, the Providence College Friars came out
quick and swarmed the Northeastern Huskies to win their third ECAC
Women's Championship in a row.  NU tried some low roll attacking to
to get back in the game, but without their rapid break in attack they
just couldn't come back.  It was a great game to watch since both
teams were evenly matched, but on Sunday afternoon, PC was on their
game.
 
In the first period, in frigid Meehan Auditorium, Alana Blahoski
(Kathleen Brophy) opened the scoring for the Friars when she took a
face-off in the Huskies zone and went straight to the net.  PC had
started the game fast and the second line was really buzzing.  A short
time later Chris Bailey (Wendy Cofran, Brophy) struck home a shot
from the left point.  In reality the puck was tipped in by Cofran.
In the second period, Northeastern tried to pick up the pace of
the game and were rewarded with a shorthanded goal by Kim Haman.
Haman blocked a point shot and then raced the length of the ice before
deking the goalie and tucking in her backhander.  At that point the
Huskies were back in the game and Providence seemed to be skating less
and reaching more.  Then out of a defensive break down, Lynn Manning
(Alison Wheeler, Stephanie O'Sullivan) trailed the play in and was
able to be a rebound high into the net.  Only a few minutes later,
Amy Carlson (Wheeler, O'Sullivan) shot home a near identical play.
PC was up 4-1 after two and looked to be on their way.  In the final
period, PC kept the Huskies off their game until Kelly Tapani (Bree
Cheatham, Haman) finished off a break in play by putting in a rebound
after a nice shot/pass from the point.  Providence finished the
scoring when Wheeler (Manning, Kim Dowd) pushed in an open net goal.
 
Northeastern did not play was well as they can.  It just seemed all
afternoon that the puck wouldn't bounce for them.  I thought Courtney
King had a wonderful match on the second line.  She was flying all
over the ice.  It was the best match I have seen her play.  Shelley
Looney had a good skating game, but looked tired from the semifinal
match.  Kim Haman played super.  Her hustle and gunning almost lifted
the Huskies back into the match.  I also thought Danyel Howard and
Rayanne Conway played some smart hockey making good passes.  Overall
it was a sad way to end a magnificent season for Northeastern.  Of
the teams I have seen this year, they have displayed the most team-
work and exciting play.  Merci beaucoup!
 
Providence College played the right style of game.  They came out big
with their swarm attack and kept the pressure on.  While I loved the
play of the 2nd line and admired the 1st line, it was the relentless
skating of the 3rd line that gave them the match.  Normally NU wins
many games because they have 3 strong lines.  In the final, PC's third
line gave the Huskies all they could handle.  It just made NU too
tired when they had to deal with the first two lines.  The other
key to the Frair win was using their skating to flood the center of
their own zone when Northeastern had the puck and they couldn't get
it back.  The outstanding player for Providence was Alison Wheeler.
Her heads up play, fast skating and excellent playmaking was
marvelous.  Wheeler and the first line were on form and nice to watch.
Fellow first liner Lynn Manning had a real good skating game and
anticipated the play so well.  Blahoski, Cofran and Brophy played
great.  That second line can fly.  Their speed was wonderful to watch.
Amy Carlson played an inspired match on the third line.  Her movement
I felt lifted the rest of the team.  On defense, Chris Bailey and Kim
Dowd were a treat.  The confidence they play with is something else.
Overall, Providence played an excellent match.  They deserved the
championship.  Well done!
 
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 good shooting
 rhun
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