Completed Event: Women's Ice Hockey versus Sacred Heart University (Exhibition) on September 27, 2025 , Win , 6, to, 1
Women's Ice Hockey
vs Sacred Heart University (Exhibition)
Final
6
-
1
Providence College Athletics
Friday, October 10
Boston, Mass.
1:30 PM
Providence College
at
Northeastern University
Photo by: Foley Photography
Women’s Hockey Opens Hockey East Play Against No. 13/13 Northeastern University and Boston College
10/8/2025 1:30:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey
The Friars were picked fifth in the Hockey East Preseason Poll.
GAME INFORMATION VS. NO. 13/13 NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
OCTOBER 10 | MATTHEWS ARENA | BOSTON, MASS. | 1:30 PM
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GAME INFORMATION VS. BOSTON COLLEGE
OCTOBER 11 | SCHNEIDER ARENA | PROVIDENCE, R.I. | 2:00 PM
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence College women's hockey team opens the 2025-26 Hockey East schedule this weekend with matchups against No. 13/13 Northeastern University and Boston College. The Friars will travel to Matthews Arena on Friday, Oct. 10, at 1:30 p.m. to face the Huskies before hosting the Eagles at Schneider Arena in Providence, R.I., on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 2:00 p.m. It will be the Friars final meeting at Matthews Arena before the historic building closes at the end of the fall semester.
Scouting the Friars
Providence enters the weekend after dropping both games to No. 8/8 Quinnipiac University to open the season. On Friday at Schneider Arena, the Friars took an early 1-0 lead before the Bobcats responded with two goals to close out the first period. Senior Reichen Kirchmair (Oakville, Ontario) tied the game in the second, but Quinnipiac answered with three unanswered goals in the third. In the rematch in Hamden, Conn., the Bobcats shut out the Friars, 5-0. Providence goaltender Hope Walinski (Lincoln, R.I.) finished with a career-high 39 saves.
Returning for the Friars
Providence returns senior forward Reichen Kirchmair (Oakville, Ontario), the 2024-25 Cammi Granato Award winner as Hockey East Player of the Year and the league's scoring champion. She became the first Friar to earn Player of the Year honors since 2004-05 and the first to claim the scoring title since 2002-03. Kirchmair was the only unanimous selection to the Hockey East First Team after leading the league with 15 goals and 15 assists in conference play. The senior paced all league players with 19 goals and 18 assists for 37 points in 34 games.
Junior forward Audrey Knapp (Stevens Point, Wis.) also returns for the Friars after being named a Hockey East First Team All-Star last season. Knapp tied for the conference lead in goals with 15, alongside Kirchmair, making them the only Friars to achieve the feat in the Hockey East era with Sara Hjalmarsson in 2022-23. The junior finished the season with 19 goals and 16 assists for 35 points.
In net, graduate student Hope Walinski (Lincoln, R.I.) returns for Providence. Walinski started 33 games for the Friars, posting a 1.87 goals against average, a .922 save percentage, four shutouts and a 19-11-3 record. Walinski was awarded as a Hockey East Third Team All-Star and named to the "Watch List" for the National Goalie of the Year Award last season.
Climbing Up The Second Half
The Friars opened the second half of the 2024-25 season with an 8-1-0 record in January, their most wins in the month since 1998-99. From January through the end of the regular season, Providence earned points in 17 of its final 20 conference games, posting a 13-3-0 record in the second half, the best mark in Hockey East after the new year. Against ranked opponents, the Friars went 7-5-0, their most ranked wins in a season under Matt Kelly and the most since 2009-10.
Hats Flying
Providence recorded four hat tricks in 2024-25, its most in a single season since 2004-05. Three of those came from current returners: Reichen Kirchmair, Audrey Knapp and Kiara Kraft.
Hockey East Preseason Poll
The Friars were picked to finish fifth in the Hockey East Preseason Poll, which was released on Monday, Sept. 16. Providence received 61 points and were picked to finish behind UConn (86), Boston University (82), Northeastern University (76) and Boston College (64). The Huskies and Terriers each received five first place votes.
Fresh Friar Faces
Providence welcomes 10 new players (one transfer and nine freshmen) to the roster for the 2025-26 season. Taylor Porthan (Edina, Minn.) is a sophomore from UConn. The nine freshmen are Molly Farace (Otonabee, Ontario), Sophie Harold (Cobourg, Ontario), Mallory Hartl (Askov, Minn.), Izzy King (Bedford, Mass.), Taylor Leemrijse (Toronto, Ontario), Lauren Mack (Excelsior, Minn.), Brenna O'Reilly (Burlington, Mass.), Bella Paolucci (Groose Pointe Woods, Mich.) and Sami Snyder (Waterloo, Ontario).
Friars Under Head Coach Matt Kelly
Including the 2024-25 campaign, Matt Kelly has posted an overall record of 125-89-25 (.575) and 96-64-19 (.590) in Hockey East play. Last season's 20 wins marked the third time during Kelly's tenure the Friars have reached the 20-win mark. In his inaugural season, the 2018-19 Friars tied the school-record with 24 wins.
In 2020-21, Kelly led the Friars to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005, marking the program's second appearance in school history. The Friars have reached the Hockey East Championship twice under Kelly, in 2020-21 and 2022-23.
Matt Kelly in Hockey East Openers
Following their 3-2 overtime win against the University of Maine last season, the Friars are now 6-1-0 in Hockey East openers under Coach Kelly. In those matchups, Providence has outscored its opponents 25-9.
2018-19 – Holy Cross – 5-1 W
2019-20 – No. 3 Northeastern – 1-0 W
2020-21 – UConn – 6-2 W
2021-22 – University of New Hampshire – 3-1 W
2022-23 – Holy Cross – 4-0 W
2023-24 – Maine – 4-3 L
2024-25 – at Maine – 3-2 OT W
Through 40
In the Kelly era, the Friars are 86-8-5 when taking the lead into the third period. They are 25-20-13 when tied after two periods and 14-61-7 when trailing.
Three is the Number
Under Kelly, Providence is 94-7-3 all-time when scoring three or more goals. The Friars were 18-1-0 last season when scoring three or more goals. Providence was a perfect 10-0-0 when scoring four or more goals and 5-0-0 when netting five.
Scouting the Huskies and Eagles
No. 13/13 Northeastern University opened the regular season last weekend by hosting the Rochester Institute of Technology. The Huskies swept the series with 3-2 and 3-1 victories, coming from behind in both games. Boston College enters the weekend with a 1-2-0 record, having been swept by the University of Minnesota before defeating Saint Anselm College last Saturday.
Who to Watch for Northeastern
The Huskies return 70 percent of their scoring from last season, led by senior captain Lily Shannon, who scored 16 goals last season. Sophomore Éloïse Caron also returns after scoring 11 goals her freshman season. Sophomore Morgan Jackson leads the Huskies in points this season with three (two goals, one assist) after the opening weekend.
In goal, sophomore Lisa Jönsson returns for Northeastern. A National Goaltender of the Year semifinalist last year, Jönsson appeared in 26 games with a 17-9-0 record, posting a 1.61 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage. Last weekend, she recorded 26 saves and a 1.50 goals-against average across the two wins.
All-Time Series with the Huskies
Northeastern holds a 68-71-13 edge in the all-time series. Last season, Providence swept the regular-season series against the Huskies for the first time since 2017-18, winning twice at Schneider Arena and once at Matthews Arena. The teams later met in the Hockey East Quarterfinals, where Northeastern earned a 3-2 win at Schneider Arena.
Who to Watch For Boston College
Freshman forward Ava Thomas leads the Eagles through three games with five points (two goals, three assists), followed by senior forward Kate Ham and junior Sammy Taber. Ham scored two goals in last weekend's 4-1 win over Saint Anslem.
Senior goaltender Grace Campbell returns between the pipes for Boston College. She started all 33 games last season, finishing with a 20-11-2 record, a 2.04 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage, including five shutouts. Campbell led Hockey East in overall saves and conference saves and ranked fourth in save percentage.
All-Time Series with the Eagles
Providence leads the all-time series against Boston College, 60-48-4. Last season, the Eagles claimed the season series with two wins at home, while the Friars earned a 4-1 victory in the lone matchup at Schneider Arena.
-GO FRIARS!-
OCTOBER 10 | MATTHEWS ARENA | BOSTON, MASS. | 1:30 PM
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GAME INFORMATION VS. BOSTON COLLEGE
OCTOBER 11 | SCHNEIDER ARENA | PROVIDENCE, R.I. | 2:00 PM
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Live Stats
Game Day Program
X (@PCWHockey)
Instagram (@PCWHockey)
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence College women's hockey team opens the 2025-26 Hockey East schedule this weekend with matchups against No. 13/13 Northeastern University and Boston College. The Friars will travel to Matthews Arena on Friday, Oct. 10, at 1:30 p.m. to face the Huskies before hosting the Eagles at Schneider Arena in Providence, R.I., on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 2:00 p.m. It will be the Friars final meeting at Matthews Arena before the historic building closes at the end of the fall semester.
Scouting the Friars
Providence enters the weekend after dropping both games to No. 8/8 Quinnipiac University to open the season. On Friday at Schneider Arena, the Friars took an early 1-0 lead before the Bobcats responded with two goals to close out the first period. Senior Reichen Kirchmair (Oakville, Ontario) tied the game in the second, but Quinnipiac answered with three unanswered goals in the third. In the rematch in Hamden, Conn., the Bobcats shut out the Friars, 5-0. Providence goaltender Hope Walinski (Lincoln, R.I.) finished with a career-high 39 saves.
Returning for the Friars
Providence returns senior forward Reichen Kirchmair (Oakville, Ontario), the 2024-25 Cammi Granato Award winner as Hockey East Player of the Year and the league's scoring champion. She became the first Friar to earn Player of the Year honors since 2004-05 and the first to claim the scoring title since 2002-03. Kirchmair was the only unanimous selection to the Hockey East First Team after leading the league with 15 goals and 15 assists in conference play. The senior paced all league players with 19 goals and 18 assists for 37 points in 34 games.
Junior forward Audrey Knapp (Stevens Point, Wis.) also returns for the Friars after being named a Hockey East First Team All-Star last season. Knapp tied for the conference lead in goals with 15, alongside Kirchmair, making them the only Friars to achieve the feat in the Hockey East era with Sara Hjalmarsson in 2022-23. The junior finished the season with 19 goals and 16 assists for 35 points.
In net, graduate student Hope Walinski (Lincoln, R.I.) returns for Providence. Walinski started 33 games for the Friars, posting a 1.87 goals against average, a .922 save percentage, four shutouts and a 19-11-3 record. Walinski was awarded as a Hockey East Third Team All-Star and named to the "Watch List" for the National Goalie of the Year Award last season.
Climbing Up The Second Half
The Friars opened the second half of the 2024-25 season with an 8-1-0 record in January, their most wins in the month since 1998-99. From January through the end of the regular season, Providence earned points in 17 of its final 20 conference games, posting a 13-3-0 record in the second half, the best mark in Hockey East after the new year. Against ranked opponents, the Friars went 7-5-0, their most ranked wins in a season under Matt Kelly and the most since 2009-10.
Hats Flying
Providence recorded four hat tricks in 2024-25, its most in a single season since 2004-05. Three of those came from current returners: Reichen Kirchmair, Audrey Knapp and Kiara Kraft.
Hockey East Preseason Poll
The Friars were picked to finish fifth in the Hockey East Preseason Poll, which was released on Monday, Sept. 16. Providence received 61 points and were picked to finish behind UConn (86), Boston University (82), Northeastern University (76) and Boston College (64). The Huskies and Terriers each received five first place votes.
Fresh Friar Faces
Providence welcomes 10 new players (one transfer and nine freshmen) to the roster for the 2025-26 season. Taylor Porthan (Edina, Minn.) is a sophomore from UConn. The nine freshmen are Molly Farace (Otonabee, Ontario), Sophie Harold (Cobourg, Ontario), Mallory Hartl (Askov, Minn.), Izzy King (Bedford, Mass.), Taylor Leemrijse (Toronto, Ontario), Lauren Mack (Excelsior, Minn.), Brenna O'Reilly (Burlington, Mass.), Bella Paolucci (Groose Pointe Woods, Mich.) and Sami Snyder (Waterloo, Ontario).
Friars Under Head Coach Matt Kelly
Including the 2024-25 campaign, Matt Kelly has posted an overall record of 125-89-25 (.575) and 96-64-19 (.590) in Hockey East play. Last season's 20 wins marked the third time during Kelly's tenure the Friars have reached the 20-win mark. In his inaugural season, the 2018-19 Friars tied the school-record with 24 wins.
In 2020-21, Kelly led the Friars to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005, marking the program's second appearance in school history. The Friars have reached the Hockey East Championship twice under Kelly, in 2020-21 and 2022-23.
Matt Kelly in Hockey East Openers
Following their 3-2 overtime win against the University of Maine last season, the Friars are now 6-1-0 in Hockey East openers under Coach Kelly. In those matchups, Providence has outscored its opponents 25-9.
2018-19 – Holy Cross – 5-1 W
2019-20 – No. 3 Northeastern – 1-0 W
2020-21 – UConn – 6-2 W
2021-22 – University of New Hampshire – 3-1 W
2022-23 – Holy Cross – 4-0 W
2023-24 – Maine – 4-3 L
2024-25 – at Maine – 3-2 OT W
Through 40
In the Kelly era, the Friars are 86-8-5 when taking the lead into the third period. They are 25-20-13 when tied after two periods and 14-61-7 when trailing.
Three is the Number
Under Kelly, Providence is 94-7-3 all-time when scoring three or more goals. The Friars were 18-1-0 last season when scoring three or more goals. Providence was a perfect 10-0-0 when scoring four or more goals and 5-0-0 when netting five.
Scouting the Huskies and Eagles
No. 13/13 Northeastern University opened the regular season last weekend by hosting the Rochester Institute of Technology. The Huskies swept the series with 3-2 and 3-1 victories, coming from behind in both games. Boston College enters the weekend with a 1-2-0 record, having been swept by the University of Minnesota before defeating Saint Anselm College last Saturday.
Who to Watch for Northeastern
The Huskies return 70 percent of their scoring from last season, led by senior captain Lily Shannon, who scored 16 goals last season. Sophomore Éloïse Caron also returns after scoring 11 goals her freshman season. Sophomore Morgan Jackson leads the Huskies in points this season with three (two goals, one assist) after the opening weekend.
In goal, sophomore Lisa Jönsson returns for Northeastern. A National Goaltender of the Year semifinalist last year, Jönsson appeared in 26 games with a 17-9-0 record, posting a 1.61 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage. Last weekend, she recorded 26 saves and a 1.50 goals-against average across the two wins.
All-Time Series with the Huskies
Northeastern holds a 68-71-13 edge in the all-time series. Last season, Providence swept the regular-season series against the Huskies for the first time since 2017-18, winning twice at Schneider Arena and once at Matthews Arena. The teams later met in the Hockey East Quarterfinals, where Northeastern earned a 3-2 win at Schneider Arena.
Who to Watch For Boston College
Freshman forward Ava Thomas leads the Eagles through three games with five points (two goals, three assists), followed by senior forward Kate Ham and junior Sammy Taber. Ham scored two goals in last weekend's 4-1 win over Saint Anslem.
Senior goaltender Grace Campbell returns between the pipes for Boston College. She started all 33 games last season, finishing with a 20-11-2 record, a 2.04 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage, including five shutouts. Campbell led Hockey East in overall saves and conference saves and ranked fourth in save percentage.
All-Time Series with the Eagles
Providence leads the all-time series against Boston College, 60-48-4. Last season, the Eagles claimed the season series with two wins at home, while the Friars earned a 4-1 victory in the lone matchup at Schneider Arena.
-GO FRIARS!-
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/ Women's Ice HockeyWomen's Ice Hockey vs. Northeastern
Saturday, February 16
Women's Ice Hockey vs. UConn
Saturday, February 02
Women's Ice Hockey vs. Boston College
Saturday, January 26
Women's Ice Hockey vs. New Hampshire
Saturday, January 19
