Wildcats Bounce Back, Thrash #9 Friars 5-0

Saturday, January 19

Providence, R.I.

3 PM

University of New Hampshire

9-12-4 (6-11-1HE)

Providence

17-7-0 (11-6-0HE)

New Hampshire

Providence

Kyra Smith set a new career high with a 41-save shutout over Providence (Photo by Helene Bartsch)

1/19/2019 5:56:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey

Box Score Highlights

After a 4-0 loss on Friday, the Wildcats came out firing and never looked back.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – After falling by a score of 4-0 on Friday night, the University of New Hampshire women's ice hockey team returned to Schneider Arena to finish up its season series with #9 Providence College. After a scoreless first period, the Wildcats tallied two in the second period and three in the third to secure two conference points in a 5-0 shutout victory over Providence.

The first and eventually game-winning goal came on the power play by senior Devan Taylor (North Billerica, Mass.) two minutes into the second frame. The power play goal stopped a streak of missed opportunities for the 'Cats who went 0-5 on Friday with a skater-advantage.

With a new-career high 41 saves, senior captain Kyra Smith (Littleton, Colo.) posted her second shutout of the season against a Friars team that hadn't been shut out since 2018. Her record on the season is now at 8-7-2.

The win also snapped a three game losing streak for the Wildcats, and was their second win over a ranked opponent this season. The Wildcats get two key conference points to leapfrog Vermont in the standings, keeping them in the post-season race.

UP NEXT:
UNH returns home Saturday, January 26 to face off with the Holy Cross Crusaders in the start of a home-and-home series. The Wildcats will be hosting their Hockey Fights Cancer game that Saturday at 2 P.M. before heading to Worcester on Sunday for game two.

For tickets and more information on the game, visit UNHWildcats.com or call (603) 862-4000.

GAME INFORMATION:
Date: Jan. 19, 2019 – 3 P.M.
Location: Schneider Arena - Providence, R.I.
Attendance: 789
Score: UNH 5 (9-12-4, 6-11-1 Hockey East) PC 0 (17-7-0, 11-6-0 Hockey East)

Goals:
UNH (2) – Devan Taylor (PP)(GW), Taylor Wenczkowski (2) (EN), Meghara McManus (SH), Nicole Dunbar
PC (0)

Assists:
UNH (5) – Julia Scammel, Meghara McManus, Marie-Jo Pelletier, Paige Rynne, Emily Rickwood
PC (0)

Goaltenders:
UNH – Kyra Smith – 8-18-15 – 41 (0 GA) {60:00} (W)
PC – Madison Myers – 13-9-8 – 30 (4 GA) {56:01} (L)

GAME RECAP

The Wildcats came out firing in the first period with a 13-8 shot advantage, testing Myers early but not finding any goals. New Hampshire continued to get power play opportunities in the first, much like game one, but could not convert in the first.
The Wildcats stayed resilient and continued to put pucks on net. A power play opportunity finally converted for them as Devan Taylor capitalized and gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead two minutes into the second period.
Halfway through the second period, Taylor Wenczkowski (Rochester, N.H.) got a turnover and rushed into the offensive zone one-on-one with a defender. After her puck-handle was poked away, it went right back to trailing teammate Marie-Jo Pelletier (Dalhousie, New Brunswick) who fired a shot that rebounded right to Wenczkowski, who was following the shot and crashing the net. She received the puck and saw a perfect opening to extend UNH's lead to two goals.
The Wildcats found themselves on the penalty kill four times in the third period. On the first of those kills, 3:20 into the third period, Meghara McManus (Milton, Mass.) picked the puck away from a Friar in the neutral zone and skated on net one-on-one with the goaltender. With a little forehand-backhand, McManus was able to get the goaltender out of position and put it home for the Wildcats' first short-handed goal of the season, and a 3-0 lead.
The fourth goal came at even strength 7:31 into the period when a hard shot by Emily Rickwood (Brantford, Ontario) rebounded to the right of the net where Nicole Dunbar (Coto de Caza, Calif.) tipped it home for the 4-0 lead
The Friars wouldn't go quietly, as with several power play opportunities late in they game they tallied five shots on net.
With the goalie pulled creating a 6-on-4 power play, the Wildcats were able to net the fifth goal, again from Wenczkowski, whose long shot was able to find the empty net. It was the second shorthanded goal of the game and of the season for UNH.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

The Wildcats tallied their first two short-handed goals of the season, after tallying three last season.
UNH scored two short-handed goals in the same game for the first time since February 13, 2015 at Vermont. The Wildcats won that game 4-2.
Taylor Wenczkowski and Meghara McManus both posted multi-point games.
- McManus' goal and an assist was good for third multi-point game of the year and 10^th of her career.
- Wenczkowski's two goals were her third multi-goal game of the year (fifth in her career) and team-leading fifth multi-point game of the year (nine in her career).
Kyra Smith's previous career-high of 40 saves was set in a 3-0 loss at home against #6 Northeastern.
- Smith now has two wins over ranked opponents this season. (Jan 5 vs. #10 BC, 22 saves, 2 goals allowed / Jan. 19 vs. #9 Providence, 41s, 0 GA).
UNH is now 8-4-0 when tallying at least one power play goal.
Providence College was shut out for just the second time this season; the first instance came against #8 Northeastern on October 26 in Boston.

PENALTIES
UNH: 7-14 PC: 4-8

POWER PLAYS
UNH: 1-4 PC: 0-7

NEW HAMPSHIRE LEADERS:
Points (2): Taylor Wenczkowski, Meghara McManus
Goals (2): Taylor Wenczkowski
Assists (1): Five players
Shots (5): Three players
Blocked Shots (3): Talli Warren
Faceoffs (10): Abby Chapman, Carlee Turner

PROVIDENCE LEADERS:
Points (0):
Goals (0):
Assists (0):
Shots (9): Maureen Murphy
Blocked Shots (2): Three players
Faceoffs (13): Kassidy MacPherson
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