Completed Event: Women's Ice Hockey at Princeton University on November 14, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 3
Women's Ice Hockey
at Princeton University
Final
0
-
3
Providence College Athletics
Friday, December 5
Providence, R.I.
6:00 PM
Providence College
vs
Merrimack College
Women’s Hockey Finishes Calendar Year With Home-And-Home Series Against Merrimack College
12/3/2025 4:00:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey
The Friars are 5-10-2 overall and 2-4-2 in Hockey East play.
GAME INFORMATION VS. MERRIMACK COLLEGE
DECEMBER 5 | SCHNEIDER ARENA | PROVIDENCE, R.I. | 6:00 PM
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DECEMBER 6 | LAWLER RINK | NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. | 2:00 PM
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence College women's hockey team will close the 2025-26 calendar year with a home-and-home series against Merrimack College. The Friars will host the Warriors on Friday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. at Schneider Arena before traveling to North Andover, Mass. on Saturday, Dec. 6 for a 2 p.m. puck drop at Lawler Rink.
Scouting the Friars
Providence enters the weekend after winning the 30th Annual Mayor's Cup on Saturday, Nov. 29 in overtime, 3-2, at Meehan Auditorium against No. 11/11 Brown University. Junior Audrey Knapp (Stevens Point, Wis.) scored two goals, including the overtime winner. After trailing 1-0 two minutes into the game, the score held until the third period. The Friars tied the game on a goal from junior Kiara Kraft (Churchville, N.Y.) before taking the lead on Knapp's first of the afternoon. Brown tied the game to force overtime, marking the fifth overtime game of the season for Providence and the second straight. Knapp secured the win in the extra frame. The victory marked Providence's third win over a ranked opponent this season and its first win when trailing after 40 minutes. The Friars are now 3-0-2 in overtime.
Pellerin In The Dots
After moving to center this season, sophomore Jessie Pellerin (Bowmanville, Ontario) has won 157 faceoffs for a team-high 55.1 percent. Her faceoff wins rank fourth in Hockey East and 36th nationally.
Walinski Making Saves
Graduate student goaltender Hope Walinski has started all 17 games for the Friars this season. She has posted a 2.97 goals against average, a .910 save percentage and 494 saves. Her 494 saves rank second in Hockey East this season and fourth in the country.
Kirchmair Reaches 50 Career Goals
In the Friars' game against Boston University on Saturday, Nov. 22, senior Reichen Kirchmair (Oakville, Ontario) scored her 50th career goal. The last Friar to reach 50 career goals was Sara Hjalmarsson (2018-23), who finished with 62 and sits 20th all-time in program history. Cammi Granato (1989-93) tops the career goals list with 139.
Ranked Start
Following the matchup against No. 13/13 St. Thomas, the Friars played seven of their first eight games against ranked opponents. Providence is 3-5-0 this season against ranked foes. Last year, the Friars went 7-5-0 — their most ranked wins in a season under Head Coach Matt Kelly and the most since 2009-10. Including the 2025-26 season, Kelly holds a 24-45-6 record against ranked opponents at Providence.
Kirchmair's Fast Start
Reichen Kirchmair has produced 15 points in 17 games this season, with nine goals and six assists. The reigning Hockey East Player of the Year ranks 21st nationally in game-winning goals (3), 30th in goals per game (0.53) and 16th in power-play goals (3). She is one of five players in the NCAA to score four goals in a game this season. Kirchmair currently has 90 career points, just 10 shy of 100. Should she reach that mark, she would join 28 other Friars in the program's all-time 100-point club.
Overtimes
Providence headed to overtime for the fifth time this season on Saturday in the 3-2 overtime victory over No. 11/11 Brown University. Prior to the series against the University of New Hampshire, three of the Friars' previous four games were decided in overtime. Providence holds a 3-0-2 record in overtime this season after going 4-1-3 in extra time last year. Under Head Coach Matt Kelly, the Friars are 17-10-22 all-time in overtime. Their five overtime games this season are the most in Hockey East.
Reichen Kirchmair Named Hockey East Player Of The Week
Senior Reichen Kirchmair (Oakville, Ontario) was named Hockey East Player of the Week on Monday, Oct. 27, marking her first weekly honor of the season. Kirchmair led the Friars with four goals in Friday's 7-6 overtime victory over No. 13/13 St. Thomas. She recorded a second-period hat trick in just 4:41 before netting the game-winner in overtime. The four-goal outing marked Kirchmair's second career hat trick, seventh three-point game, and second four-point game. It was also her 22nd career multi-point effort and 12th game-winning goal. Kirchmair is the first Friar to score four goals in a game since Sara Hjalmarsson did so against Maine on Nov. 19, 2022, and the first to record multiple hat tricks since Hjalmarsson, who tallied three in her career.
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.
Largest Freshman Class Since 2008-09
Providence welcomes nine freshmen to the 2025-26 roster, the most in a single class since 2008-09.
Audrey Knapp Invited to USA Hockey Women's National Festival
Junior Audrey Knapp (Stevens Point, Wis.) was invited to the 2025 USA Hockey Women's National Festival on Aug. 3-9 at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, N.Y. The group is made up of 76 college and professional players, along with 46 players under the age of 18. The Festival assisted in the evaluation process for the 2026 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team.
Former Friars Selected in 2025 PWHL Draft
Former Friars Sara Hjalmarsson (Bankeryd, Sweden) '22, '23G and Brooke Becker (Orchard Park, N.Y.) '24, '25G were selected in the 2025 PWHL Draft. Hjalmarsson was chosen in the fifth round (35th overall) by the Toronto Sceptres, while Becker was taken in the sixth round (46th overall) by the Minnesota Frost. The duo becomes the third and fourth Friars in program history to be selected in the PWHL Draft, joining Sandra Abstreiter '22, '23G (2023) and Noemi Neubauerová '23G (2024).
Last Season's Second Half Climb
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.
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 2025-26 campaign, Matt Kelly has posted an overall record of 130-97-27 (.565) and 98-68-21 (.580) 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.
Closing In On 100 Hockey East Wins
Providence Head Coach Matt Kelly enters the weekend with 98 Hockey East victories, two shy of 100. Kelly would become the second coach in program history to reach 100 Hockey East wins since the league's inception in 2002-03, joining Bob Deraney. He currently ranks third all-time in program history with 129 overall wins, trailing Deraney (319) and John Marchetti (264).
Through 40
In the Kelly era, the Friars are 88-8-6 when taking the lead into the third period. They are 27-20-14 when tied after two periods and 15-69-7 when trailing.
Three is the Number
Under Kelly, Providence is 98-7-3 all-time when scoring three or more goals. The Friars are 4-0-0 this season when scoring three goals. Last season, Providence went 18-1-0 when scoring three or more, including a perfect 10-0-0 mark when scoring four and 5-0-0 when scoring five.
Scouting the Warriors
Merrimack enters the weekend 3-12-1 overall and 0-8-0 in Hockey East play. Last Sunday, the Warriors hosted Assumption University and defeated the Greyhounds, 4-1. After Assumption opened the scoring in the first period, Merrimack responded with four unanswered goals. Emma Pfeffer and Avery Anderson each recorded two assists in the win. In the opening weekend of the season, the Warriors earned a 5-3 victory over No. 7 Clarkson University at Lawler Rink.
Who to Watch for Merrimack
Junior forward Emma Pfeffer leads Merrimack with 11 points on five goals and six assists through 16 games. Senior forward Avery Anderson ranks second with 10 points (two goals, eight assists), while junior defenseman Hailey Eikos has posted nine points on two goals and seven assists. Eikos was named Army ROTC Defender of the Week on the opening weekend of the season.
In goal, sophomore Adreanna Doucette has appeared in 12 games this season. She has made 11 starts, posting a 2.99 goals against average, a .913 save percentage, 335 saves and a 2-9-1 record.
All-Time Series with the Warriors
The Friars lead the all-time series, 26-3-2. The first meeting came on Dec. 11, 2015, a 4-3 win for Providence. The Friars have won 15 games at home in the series and 11 at Lawler Rink. Last season, Providence earned a win both at home and on the road, while the Warriors claimed a 4-2 victory at Lawler Rink. Last season against Merrimack, Audrey Knapp tallied one goal and three assists while Reichen Kirchmair recorded two goals and two assists.
-GO FRIARS!-
DECEMBER 5 | SCHNEIDER ARENA | PROVIDENCE, R.I. | 6:00 PM
Watch Live on ESPN+
Live Stats
Game Day Program
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DECEMBER 6 | LAWLER RINK | NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. | 2:00 PM
Watch Live on ESPN+
Live Stats
Game Day Program
X (@PCWHockey)
Instagram (@PCWHockey)
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence College women's hockey team will close the 2025-26 calendar year with a home-and-home series against Merrimack College. The Friars will host the Warriors on Friday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. at Schneider Arena before traveling to North Andover, Mass. on Saturday, Dec. 6 for a 2 p.m. puck drop at Lawler Rink.
Scouting the Friars
Providence enters the weekend after winning the 30th Annual Mayor's Cup on Saturday, Nov. 29 in overtime, 3-2, at Meehan Auditorium against No. 11/11 Brown University. Junior Audrey Knapp (Stevens Point, Wis.) scored two goals, including the overtime winner. After trailing 1-0 two minutes into the game, the score held until the third period. The Friars tied the game on a goal from junior Kiara Kraft (Churchville, N.Y.) before taking the lead on Knapp's first of the afternoon. Brown tied the game to force overtime, marking the fifth overtime game of the season for Providence and the second straight. Knapp secured the win in the extra frame. The victory marked Providence's third win over a ranked opponent this season and its first win when trailing after 40 minutes. The Friars are now 3-0-2 in overtime.
Pellerin In The Dots
After moving to center this season, sophomore Jessie Pellerin (Bowmanville, Ontario) has won 157 faceoffs for a team-high 55.1 percent. Her faceoff wins rank fourth in Hockey East and 36th nationally.
Walinski Making Saves
Graduate student goaltender Hope Walinski has started all 17 games for the Friars this season. She has posted a 2.97 goals against average, a .910 save percentage and 494 saves. Her 494 saves rank second in Hockey East this season and fourth in the country.
Kirchmair Reaches 50 Career Goals
In the Friars' game against Boston University on Saturday, Nov. 22, senior Reichen Kirchmair (Oakville, Ontario) scored her 50th career goal. The last Friar to reach 50 career goals was Sara Hjalmarsson (2018-23), who finished with 62 and sits 20th all-time in program history. Cammi Granato (1989-93) tops the career goals list with 139.
Ranked Start
Following the matchup against No. 13/13 St. Thomas, the Friars played seven of their first eight games against ranked opponents. Providence is 3-5-0 this season against ranked foes. Last year, the Friars went 7-5-0 — their most ranked wins in a season under Head Coach Matt Kelly and the most since 2009-10. Including the 2025-26 season, Kelly holds a 24-45-6 record against ranked opponents at Providence.
Kirchmair's Fast Start
Reichen Kirchmair has produced 15 points in 17 games this season, with nine goals and six assists. The reigning Hockey East Player of the Year ranks 21st nationally in game-winning goals (3), 30th in goals per game (0.53) and 16th in power-play goals (3). She is one of five players in the NCAA to score four goals in a game this season. Kirchmair currently has 90 career points, just 10 shy of 100. Should she reach that mark, she would join 28 other Friars in the program's all-time 100-point club.
Overtimes
Providence headed to overtime for the fifth time this season on Saturday in the 3-2 overtime victory over No. 11/11 Brown University. Prior to the series against the University of New Hampshire, three of the Friars' previous four games were decided in overtime. Providence holds a 3-0-2 record in overtime this season after going 4-1-3 in extra time last year. Under Head Coach Matt Kelly, the Friars are 17-10-22 all-time in overtime. Their five overtime games this season are the most in Hockey East.
Reichen Kirchmair Named Hockey East Player Of The Week
Senior Reichen Kirchmair (Oakville, Ontario) was named Hockey East Player of the Week on Monday, Oct. 27, marking her first weekly honor of the season. Kirchmair led the Friars with four goals in Friday's 7-6 overtime victory over No. 13/13 St. Thomas. She recorded a second-period hat trick in just 4:41 before netting the game-winner in overtime. The four-goal outing marked Kirchmair's second career hat trick, seventh three-point game, and second four-point game. It was also her 22nd career multi-point effort and 12th game-winning goal. Kirchmair is the first Friar to score four goals in a game since Sara Hjalmarsson did so against Maine on Nov. 19, 2022, and the first to record multiple hat tricks since Hjalmarsson, who tallied three in her career.
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.
Largest Freshman Class Since 2008-09
Providence welcomes nine freshmen to the 2025-26 roster, the most in a single class since 2008-09.
Audrey Knapp Invited to USA Hockey Women's National Festival
Junior Audrey Knapp (Stevens Point, Wis.) was invited to the 2025 USA Hockey Women's National Festival on Aug. 3-9 at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, N.Y. The group is made up of 76 college and professional players, along with 46 players under the age of 18. The Festival assisted in the evaluation process for the 2026 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team.
Former Friars Selected in 2025 PWHL Draft
Former Friars Sara Hjalmarsson (Bankeryd, Sweden) '22, '23G and Brooke Becker (Orchard Park, N.Y.) '24, '25G were selected in the 2025 PWHL Draft. Hjalmarsson was chosen in the fifth round (35th overall) by the Toronto Sceptres, while Becker was taken in the sixth round (46th overall) by the Minnesota Frost. The duo becomes the third and fourth Friars in program history to be selected in the PWHL Draft, joining Sandra Abstreiter '22, '23G (2023) and Noemi Neubauerová '23G (2024).
Last Season's Second Half Climb
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.
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 2025-26 campaign, Matt Kelly has posted an overall record of 130-97-27 (.565) and 98-68-21 (.580) 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.
Closing In On 100 Hockey East Wins
Providence Head Coach Matt Kelly enters the weekend with 98 Hockey East victories, two shy of 100. Kelly would become the second coach in program history to reach 100 Hockey East wins since the league's inception in 2002-03, joining Bob Deraney. He currently ranks third all-time in program history with 129 overall wins, trailing Deraney (319) and John Marchetti (264).
Through 40
In the Kelly era, the Friars are 88-8-6 when taking the lead into the third period. They are 27-20-14 when tied after two periods and 15-69-7 when trailing.
Three is the Number
Under Kelly, Providence is 98-7-3 all-time when scoring three or more goals. The Friars are 4-0-0 this season when scoring three goals. Last season, Providence went 18-1-0 when scoring three or more, including a perfect 10-0-0 mark when scoring four and 5-0-0 when scoring five.
Scouting the Warriors
Merrimack enters the weekend 3-12-1 overall and 0-8-0 in Hockey East play. Last Sunday, the Warriors hosted Assumption University and defeated the Greyhounds, 4-1. After Assumption opened the scoring in the first period, Merrimack responded with four unanswered goals. Emma Pfeffer and Avery Anderson each recorded two assists in the win. In the opening weekend of the season, the Warriors earned a 5-3 victory over No. 7 Clarkson University at Lawler Rink.
Who to Watch for Merrimack
Junior forward Emma Pfeffer leads Merrimack with 11 points on five goals and six assists through 16 games. Senior forward Avery Anderson ranks second with 10 points (two goals, eight assists), while junior defenseman Hailey Eikos has posted nine points on two goals and seven assists. Eikos was named Army ROTC Defender of the Week on the opening weekend of the season.
In goal, sophomore Adreanna Doucette has appeared in 12 games this season. She has made 11 starts, posting a 2.99 goals against average, a .913 save percentage, 335 saves and a 2-9-1 record.
All-Time Series with the Warriors
The Friars lead the all-time series, 26-3-2. The first meeting came on Dec. 11, 2015, a 4-3 win for Providence. The Friars have won 15 games at home in the series and 11 at Lawler Rink. Last season, Providence earned a win both at home and on the road, while the Warriors claimed a 4-2 victory at Lawler Rink. Last season against Merrimack, Audrey Knapp tallied one goal and three assists while Reichen Kirchmair recorded two goals and two assists.
-GO FRIARS!-
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/ Women's Ice HockeyWomen's Ice Hockey vs. Northeastern
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