The Friars’ already-shorthanded depth chart took yet another chop with a fuzzily detailed ailment to sophomore winger Kate Bacon.
Bacon, who came back from a prior injury for the second game of the season along with classmate and linemate Abby Gauthier, took to the sidelines again for last night’s tussle with Yale, reducing PC to a mere three-and-one-thirds forward lines.
“No comment,” head coach Bob Deraney initially replied when asked to explain Bacon’s absence.
But, when prodded a little further, he offered, “She’ll be out for three weeks.”
Oof. Now what? Still yet to hand fellow forwards Jackie Duncan and Jessie Vella their game-time attire at any point in the young season, and still not pinpointing just when that can and will happen, the Friars will have to indefinitely subsist on the services of 10 attackers and allow for, at most, two constant forward lines instead of three.
Last night, keeping the consensus top two lines intact as always, Deraney primarily had Bacon’s spot on the third-line left wing plugged by the likes of Pam McDevitt and Bre Schwarz, both of whom have not had a line to call their own yet this year. McDevitt would tally one shot on net and draw two of the Friars’ seven power plays. Both players got away with an even plus/minus rate.
Meanwhile, in a game pitting two injury-shriveled, 16-skater rosters, even the zebras were not immune to the on-ice injury endemic. A mere 14 seconds into overtime, referee Julie Piacentini took an inadvertent clip to the face and left the scene clutching her right eye. Luckily, with partial thanks to her visor, she escaped without considerable damage.
Shootout summary
The contesting teams conducted a harmless shootout after their 2-2 draw went final last night with the Friars unofficially prevailing, 1-0, on the strength of third shooter Jess Cohen slipping in a five-hole conversion.
The contesting teams conducted a harmless shootout after their 2-2 draw went final last night with the Friars unofficially prevailing, 1-0, on the strength of third shooter Jess Cohen slipping in a five-hole conversion.
PC goaltender Genevieve Lacasse pushed away all three bids she faced, starting with another dramatic thwart of Bray Ketchum’s –whose stimulating breakaway carried real weight moments prior in overtime; continuing with an upfront stick save on Caroline Murphy; and concluding with Berit Johnson watching her wrapper trickle behind Lacasse, only to scamper away from the net.
Yale’s Jackee Snikeris prevailed against Ashley Cottrell’s backhand bid and got a break against Jean O’Neill, who illicitly pumped home a rebound. But she could not answer Cohen, who like Erin Normore against Niagara last year gave the Schneider masses a virtual walk-off in just the second shootout they have ever witnessed.
In the year-plus since the new format was introduced, PC has yet to see a tangible Hockey East shootout on its own pond.
Slow whistles
The uneventful first period trend carried on last night as the Friars lulled through their fourth scoreless opening frame in seven games this season. As if that weren’t enough, there were no stoppages of play between the opening face-off and the 4:38 mark, at which point Schwarz was flagged for tripping.
The uneventful first period trend carried on last night as the Friars lulled through their fourth scoreless opening frame in seven games this season. As if that weren’t enough, there were no stoppages of play between the opening face-off and the 4:38 mark, at which point Schwarz was flagged for tripping.
Quick feeds: The line of Cottrell, O’Neill, and Laura Veharanta combined for a hefty 20 shots on net. Veharanta was credited with the initial assist on Cottrell’s goal, equaling her third point of the season (all helpers)…Cottrell’s five goals have her in a four-way tie for the league lead, opposite Boston College’s Allie Thunstrom, Boston University’s Jenelle Kohanchuk, and Maine’s Jennie Gallo…Both of PC’s losses this season have been immediately followed by ties…Sophomore defenders Jennifer Friedman and Christie Jensen each picked up their first point on the year in the form of an assist…Brown University, tomorrow’s opponent for the 15th annual Mayor’s Cup clash, opened its season last night with an ultra-vinegary 8-1 home loss to Connecticut.
Al Daniel can be reached at hockeyscribe@hotmail.com
This article originally appeared in the Friartown Free Press
