Box Score Hughes, Ketchum Score; 35 Saves for
Snikeris
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - With freshmen accounting for
more than a third of Yale's roster heading into the 2009-10 season,
it's nice to know that there are also some veterans the Bulldogs
can count on. Three players that figure to be key parts of Yale's
success this year all contributed in the season opener Friday
night, and the result was a hard-fought 2-2 tie at Providence. The
top two returning scorers -- sophomore forward Aleca Hughes and
junior forward Bray Ketchum -- each scored, and junior goaltender
Jackee Snikeris made 35 saves.
"The people that we are counting on came through," said Yale
head coach Hilary Witt. "The good news is other kids had
opportunities too, they just didn't go in. A bounce here and a
bounce there and anyone on our team could have scored tonight."
Yale (0-0-1, 0-0-0 ECAC Hockey) had to come back twice to earn
the tie. Providence (3-2-2, 2-0-0 Hockey East) outshot Yale 12-5 in
a scoreless first period, then capitalized on a power play 95
seconds into the second period to go up 1-0 on a Nicole Anderson
goal. The Bulldogs drew a hooking penalty on Providence right after
that, which led to Ketchum's goal off a rebound from a shot by
sophomore defenseman Heather Grant. It was the 23rd goal
of Ketchum's career -- 14 more than any other current Bulldog --
and her first ever against a non-league opponent.
"It was a great goal," Witt said. "We got a little pressure and
Bray was in a good spot. It was great timing, coming right after
the Providence goal, since we needed a little confidence builder."
A holding call against Yale, one of four penalties in the second
period for the Bulldogs, gave Providence the chance to go back
ahead, 2-1, on a power-play goal by Ashley Cottrell at 14:05 of the
second.
Hughes then scored the game-tying goal -- the only even-strength
goal of the game -- on a give-and-go from Ketchum at 4:32 of the
third. After that it was all up to Snikeris, as she made eight
saves in the third and three in overtime to preserve the deadlock.
Providence's Genevieve Lacasse made 20 stops.
Yale returns to action Sunday with an exhibition game against
McGill at Ingalls Rink at 2 p.m.
Report by Sam Rubin '95 (sam.rubin@yale.edu),
Yale Sports Publicity
