Women's Ice Hockey Drops Game One to Providence, 4-2

Friday, September 25

Fairfield, Conn.

6:00 PM

Sacred Heart

0-1-0

Providence College

1-0-0

Team	1	2	3	F
Providence	2	2	0	4
Sacred Heart	1	1	0	2

Women's Ice Hockey Drops Game One to Providence, 4-2

9/25/2026 8:17:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey

Box Score

Gerdel scored her first career goal

By: Joe Verrillo

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Sacred Heart University women's ice hockey team battled hard in the first game of the season against Providence, but ultimately fell, 4-2.

Records:
Sacred Heart: (0-1-0, 0-0-0 NEWHA)
Providence: (1-0-0, 0-0-0 Hockey East)

Top Performers:
Izzy Chaput: 1 goal
Sara Gerdel: 1 goal
Amanda Ranaudo: 1 assist
Katie Downey: 1 assist
Bria Holm: 1 assist
Maddie Smith: 1 assist

Goaltending:
Sacred Heart: Lauren Larson: 4 goals allowed | 39 saves
Providence: Bianca Birrittieri: 2 goals allowed | 16 saves

How it Happened:
Both teams came out firing to open the game. Amanda Ranaudo generated an early opportunity for the Pioneers, but her shot was narrowly saved by the Providence goaltender. As the period continued, both sides traded chances and applied pressure in the offensive zone.

Just under 14 minutes into the opening frame, the Friars broke through first to take a 1-0 lead. The Pioneers wasted little time responding, as just seconds later, Chaput, back from injury and fully healthy, found the back of the net off a feed from Bria Holm to even the score at one.

Two minutes later, Providence regained the lead with its second goal of the period, sending the Friars into the first intermission with a 2-1 lead.

When the second period started, it was all Friars. Five minutes into the frame, Providence found the back of the net to extend its lead to 3-1.

As the period moved along, the Friars continued to generate dangerous opportunities. Larson and the Pioneer defense did a good job limiting the damage, but 15 minutes into the period, Providence broke through once again to push its advantage to 4-1.

The Pioneers needed a spark, and that spark came from Gerdel. Making an immediate impact, Gerdel buried her first shot on her first shift of the game off a feed from Downey, cutting the Providence lead to 4-2.

Coming into the third period, both teams came out firing. The Pioneers and Friars traded opportunities early, with both sides generating a plethora of shots through the first seven minutes of the frame.

The Pioneers were then gifted a golden opportunity with a 4-on-3 advantage. Sacred Heart generated multiple quality chances, looking to cut into the deficit, but were ultimately unable to find the back of the net.

For the remainder of the game, the Friars controlled possession and limited the Pioneers' opportunities. Sacred Heart managed to generate a few chances down the stretch, but was unable to capitalize, allowing Providence to hold on for the 4-2 victory.

Of Note:
Gerdel, Ranaudo, and Downey all recorded their first collegiate point.
Providence outshot the Pioneers 43-18

Up Next: Sacred Heart travels to Providence, R.I., on Saturday, September 26, to face Providence College at 3 p.m. in the second game of the home-and-home series.