Providence overcame an early deficit by scoring three straight goals in a span of 1:54 of the second period to defeat Quinnipiac 5-2 Friday at Schneider Arena.
In the first period, Quinnipiac’s Matt Erhart scored on an early power play to take a 1-0 lead. Providence rebounded and outshot Quinnipiac, 16-4, in the period but could not solve freshman goaltender Jamie Holden.
In the second period, Providence overcame Holden with a barrage of shots. Senior Peter Fregoe pulled the Friars (7-9-1 overall) even at 1-1 at the 10:30 mark of the second period when he skated in alone on Holden and flipped a shot through the goaltender’s pads for his eighth goal of the season.
PC sophomore defenseman Stephen Wood put the Friars ahead, 2-1, just one minute and 18 seconds later when he fired a blast from the point that rifled past Holden to give Providence a 2-1 lead. Wood scored his third goal of the season on the power play, finishing off assists from classmate Peter Zingoni and junior Jon DiSalvatore.
Just 38 seconds later, junior Michael Lucci finished off the third consecutive Providence goal in a 1:54 stretch when he converted from junior Doug Wright and freshman defenseman Eric Lundberg.
The third period began with Quinnipiac pulling within one goal, when Brian Herbert scored 57 seconds in. PC senior Drew Omicioli put Providence back up by two goals when he banged in a rebound from in front of the Quinnipiac goal.
Sophomore Jonathan Goodwin closed the scoring with an empty-net goal with 9.8 seconds left to play.
Providence junior Nolan Schaefer, who relieved freshman David Cacciola in goal to start the second period, earned the win by making nine saves in 40 minutes. Cacciola made just three saves and allowed one goal in the first 20 minutes of action. Holden made 42 saves for Quinnipiac.
The Friars return to action on Friday, December 28, when they face Western Michigan in the first round of play at the Mariucci Classic, held at the University of Minnesota.
