Providence opened its season with a 6-2 victory in its exhibition game against the London Junior Stangs on Sunday at Schneider Arena.
Senior Jenn Butsch opened up the scoring at 7:04 of the first period when she beat goaltender Allison Rutledge on an assist from Darlene Stephenson. The Stangs then turned up the heat on the Friars by scoring the next two goals on shots by Kathryn Grasso and Meghan Agosta.
Junior Kelli Halcisak answered for the Friars less than a minute later. Sophomore Rush Zimmerman closed out the scoring in the first period when she scored unassisted at 18:29.
Neither team was able to score in the second period. In the third period senior Danielle Culgin scored twice with assists from Butsch on both goals. Senior Melanie Ruzzi tallied a third-period goal off an assist from sophomore Christina Redmond.
The Friars start their regular-season schedule next Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. when the back-to-back NCAA champion, Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs come to town.
