Upcoming Event: Men's Ice Hockey versus Simon Fraser (Exhibition) on October 3, 2025
Men's Ice Hockey
vs Simon Fraser (Exhibition)
Providence College Athletics
Saturday, October 18
Mankato, Minn.
8:05 PM
Providence College
5
at
3
Minnesota State
Men's Hockey Skates Past Minnesota State, 5-3
10/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 18, 2003
MANKATO, Minn. -- Providence College freshman Chase Watson (Media, Pa.) scored the game-winning goal and added an empty-net tally as the Friars skated past Minnesota State, 5-3, in a wild back-and-forth contest at the Midwest Wireless Civic Center on Saturday, October 18. The win marked the second in as many nights for the Friars (4-0) against the Mavericks (0-2).
The Mavericks jumped ahead for the second consecutive night as they scored on the power play at 2:39. Freshman David Backes' one timer from just outside the left circle beat Providence sophomore netminder Bobby Goepfert (Kings Park, N.Y.), who was screened in front of the net. PC responded at the 6:17 mark as senior Cody Loughlean (Innisfail, Alta.) made a drop pass to senior Peter Zingoni (Newtown, Conn.) whose wrist shot from outside the right circle trickled through the pads of MSU junior Jon Volp and just over the goal line. The Friars took the lead on the power play when Torry Gajda (Westfield, Mass.) poked in a loose puck in front of the net at 12:30. The Mavericks tied the game at 2-2 late in the first period as they scored their second power-play goal when senior Shane Joseph tapped in a loose puck past Goepfert at 18:49.
Providence went ahead, 3-2, scoring another power-play goal at 2:16 of the second period following a five-minute major penalty against MSU. Loughlean was alone in front and fired a wrist shot past Volp for his second goal of the season as junior Chris Chaput (Pawtucket, R.I.) and senior Stephen Wood (Sudbury, Mass.) were credited with the assists. MSU tied the game once again when sophomore Jeff Morin scored on the man advantage at 9:08.
Watson scored the next two goals for Providence, including the game winner on the power play at 16:50 of the second period as he was set up by Gajda and senior Jonathan Goodwin (Taunton, Mass.) to make the score, 4-3. The Mavericks pressured the Friars and with 57 seconds left, PC was whistled for a charging penalty. Thirty-two seconds into the power play, the Mavericks pulled Volp, creating a six-on-four situation, but Watson was able to intercept a pass a center ice and fire the puck into the empty net with five seconds remaining in third period. Watson finished with three points (two goals, one assist) to earn first star of the game.
The Friars and the Mavericks were both efficient on the power play. PC went three-for-five, while MSU converted on three of six power-play chances. Goepfert made 21 saves on the night for the Friars, who improved to 4-0 for the second consecutive season. Volp stopped 39 shots for MSU, which was swept in a series at the Midwest Wireless Civic Center for the first time since 2001.
The Friars will return to action on Friday, October 24 when they begin Hockey East play against Boston University at Schneider Arena.
Providence 2 2 1 -- 5Minnesota State 2 1 0 -- 3
First period - MSU, David Backes (Steven Johns, Shane Joseph) PP 2:39; PC, Peter Zingoni (Cody Loughlean) 6:17; Torry Gajda (Chase Watson, James Pemberton) PP 12:30; MSU, Shane Joseph (Jeff Morin, Jake Brenk) PP 18:49; Penalties - PC, 7-22; MSU, 6-23.
Second period - PC, Cody Loughlean (Chris Chaput, Stephen Wood) PP 2:16; MSU, Jeff Morin (David Backes, Steven Johns) PP 9:08; PC, Chase Watson (Torry Gajda, Jonathan Goodwin) PP 16:50; Penalties - PC, 3-6; MSU, 3-17.
Third period - PC, Chase Watson (unassisted) EN SH 19:55; Penalties - PC, 1-2, MSU, none.
PC, Bobby Goepfert, 6-5-10 -- 21 (60:00); MSU, Volp, 16-14-9--39 (59:35)
Records - PC, 4-0; MSU, 0-2.
Attendance - 3,227 (Midwest Wireless Civic Center).
Players Mentioned
C
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