January 30, 2010
Recap | Box Score | Preview

Griffin’s Tally With Five Minutes Remaining Lifts No. 7 Women's Hockey to 2-1 Victory Over No. 9 Providence

Pictured: Randi Griffin notched the game-winning goal, her second tally of the season.
Photo courtesy: Gil Talbot Photography

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Randi Griffin broke a 1-1 tie with a game-winning goal with 5:18 to play in the third period, helping the seventh-ranked Harvard women’s hockey team defeat No. 9 Providence, 2-1, Saturday afternoon at Bright Hockey Center. Goaltender Laura Bellamy earned her second straight victory, stopping 18 shots, while Katharine Chute also notched a goal for the Crimson, which improves to 12-5-4 overall.

After outshooting Providence (12-9-8) for much of the early stages of the game, Harvard notched the game’s first goal of the 5:16 mark. Kathryn Farni, playing the puck near the Friar bench on the left side of the blue line, made a quick pass in front of the net, finding Chute for the junior’s fifth tally of the season.

Midway through the third period, the Friars scored off a faceoff in the Crimson zone, making it a 1-1 game, as Arianna Rigano placed a shot through Bellamy at 9:18. Less than five minutes later, Rigano was whistled for a cross-checking penalty, giving Harvard its fourth power play of the game at 14:08. Leanna Coskren sent a pass to the left faceoff circle, finding Farni. Farni accepted the puck and immediately made a pass of her own to Griffin, who was camped out at the right side of the crease. Griffin one-timed the puck into the top left corner of the net, putting Harvard ahead, 2-1, at 14:42

Harvard held Providence scoreless on three power-play chances and owned a 36-19 advantage in shots for the game, including a 15-4 edge in the second period. Jillian Dempsey was stellar at the faceoff circle for Harvard, winning 24 of 27 draws in the game.

The Crimson will host the first round of the 32nd Annual Women’s Beanpot at Bright Hockey Center Tuesday, Feb. 2. Northeastern and Boston University will play at 5 p.m., while the Crimson and Boston College will skate at 8 p.m.