Completed Event: Women's Ice Hockey versus Sacred Heart University on September 26, 2026 , Win , 3, to, 0
Women's Ice Hockey
vs Sacred Heart University
Final
3
-
0
Friday, October 23
Potsdam, N.Y.
6:00 PM
Providence College
at
Clarkson University
Photo by: Jay Ruzicka
10/22/2026 11:30:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
The Friars will continue their six-game road trip with a weekend series against the Golden Knights in Potsdam, N.Y. on Friday, October. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24.
GAME INFORMATION VS. CLARKSON
OCTOBER 23 | CHEEL ARENA | POTSDAM, N.Y. | 6:00 PM
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OCTOBER 24 | CHEEL ARENA | POTSDAM, N.Y. | 3:00 PM
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POTSDAM, N.Y. – The Providence College women's hockey team will face off against No. 10/11 Clarkson University this weekend in a non-conference matchup. Providence will head to Potsdam, N.Y. to face the Golden Knights on Friday, Oct. 23 at 6:00 p.m., followed by a 3:00 p.m. start time on Saturday.
SCOUTING THE FRIARS
Providence enters the weekend series 3-3-0 overall and 1-1-0 in conference. On Friday, Oct. 9 the Friars were shutout, 2-0, by No. 7/6 Northeastern on Friday, Oct. 9 in Schneider Arena. Sophomore goalkeeper Mallory Hartl (Askov, Minn.) finished with a game-high 30 saves despite the loss. The Friars bounced back the next day with a 3-2 overtime win against Boston College on Saturday, Oct. 10. Three different Friars scored in the win including junior Josie Lang (Stillwater, Minn.), for her first career goal, and junior Emma Hofbauer (Vomberbach, Austria). Junior Hannah Clarke (Richmond Hill, Ontario) scored the game winning goal for the Friars to put Providence back in the win column. The last time Providence notched an overtime win was also against the Eagles in a 2-1 victory on Feb. 13, 2026.
RETURNING FOR THE FRIARS
Providence returns senior forward Audrey Knapp (Stevens Point, Wis.), who reached 20-plus points for the second consecutive season last year. The rising senior posted seven goals and 16 assists for 23 points and was one of four Friars to reach the 20-point mark. In the 2024-25 season, Knapp was named a Hockey East First Team All-Star, tied for the conference lead in goals with 15 and finished the season with 35 points.
Senior forward Kiara Kraft (Churchville, N.Y.) and junior forward Emma Hofbauer (Vomperbach, Austria) also return for the Friars. Both players recorded 10-plus points with Kraft recording five goals and seven assists for 12 points while Hofbauer posted five goals and five assists for 10 points.
On defense, junior Hannah Clarke (Richmond Hill, Ont.) led the returning defenseman last season in points with one goal and seven assists for eight points.
FRESH FRIAR FACES
Providence welcomes 10 new players (two transfers and eight freshmen) to the roster for the 2026-27 season. Reese Strauts (Brandon, Wis.) and Hanna Olson (Andover, Minn.) are two sophomore transfers from St. Cloud State University and St. Lawrence University, respectively. The eight freshmen are Bianca Birrittieri (Flower Mound, Texas), Avery Ide (Skaneateles, N.Y.), Elizabeth Janovski (Stouffville, Ontario), Reese Kletke (Oakville, Ontario), Mirella Martinelli (North Providence, R.I.), Mackenzie Riches (Pickering, Ontario), Cameryn Shiels (Surrey, British Columbia) and Grace Van Volsen (Whitby, Ontario).
NICOLE NORTON NAMED INTERIM HEAD COACH
It was announced on Aug. 16 that Providence College women's ice hockey Head Coach Matt Kelly stepped down. Assistant Coach Nicole Norton will take over the program as interim head coach, while Assistant Coach Katie Burt will be elevated to interim associate head coach.
HITTING THE ROAD
The Friars began their first of six straight road games against Boston College on Oct. 10. Providence defeated the Eagles 3-2 in overtime and are now 2-1-0 on the road to start the season.
FOUR FRIARS HEADED TO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Three Friar alumni (Sandra Abstreiter '22, '23G with Germany, Sara Hjalmarsson '22, '23G with Sweden and Noemi Neubauerová '23G with Czechia) and one current Friar (Emma Hofbauer with Austria) have been named to their respective nations for the 2026 IIHF World Championships in Denmark from Nov. 6-16. It will mark Neubauerová's eighth, Hjalmarsson's seventh, Abstreiter's sixth and Hofbauer's first World Championships.
DANIELLE SLOMINSKI JOINS STAFF AS ASSISTANT COACH
Head Coach Nicole Norton announced on Sept. 21 that Danielle Slominski has joined her staff as an assistant coach. Slominski spent the last two seasons at the University of Vermont, where she served as an assistant coach and director of hockey operations.
SANDRA ABSTREITER WINS WALTER CUP
Former Friar goaltender Sandra Abstreiter was a member of the Montréal Victoire PWHL team that won the Walter Cup in the 2025-26 season. Abstreiter became the first Friar to win the Walter Cup.
CINDY CURLEY TO THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME
Cindy Curley '85 will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026 as announced on June 22, 2026. Curley ranks third all-time in Providence history with 225 career points and helped lead the Friars to their first two ECAC Championship titles in 1984 and 1985. She will join Cammi Granato '93 as the only Friar women's hockey alumni inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. The induction will be held on November 9 in Toronto, Ontario.
BIANCA BIRRITTIERI WINS GOLD
Freshman goaltender Bianca Birrittieri won gold with the United States national team at the U18 Women's World Championship in Cape Breton, Canada on Sunday, Jan. 18. Birrittieri played in four games for the United States and posted a 0.50 goals-against average, a .975 save percentage, two shutouts and a 4-0-0 record. In the gold medal game against Canada, Birrittieri recorded a shutout with 38 saves and was named Player of the Game. Birrittieri, originally from Flower Mound, Texas, will join the Friars next season.
BIANCA BIRRITTIERI AND MIRELLA MARTINELLI INVITED TO USA HOCKEY WOMEN'S NATIONAL FESTIVAL
Freshman goaltender Bianca Birrittieri (Flower Mound, Texas) and freshman defenseman Mirella Martinelli (North Providence, R.I.) were invited to the 2026 USA Hockey Women's National Festival on Aug. 2-9 at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, N.Y. The group was comprised of 46 collegiate players and 46 players under the age of 18. The festival marked Birrittieri's third appearance and Martinelli's second at the Festival.
REICHEN KIRCHMAIR SELECTED IN 2026 PWHL DRAFT
Former Friars Reichen Kirchmair (Oakville, Ontario) '26 was selected in the 2026 PWHL Draft. Kirchmair was chosen in the sixth round (64th overall) by PWHL San Jose. Kirchmair becomes the fifth Friar in program history to be selected in the PWHL Draft, joining Sandra Abstreiter '22, '23G (2023), Noemi Neubauerová '23G (2024), Sara Hjalmarsson '22, '23G (2025) and Brooke Becker '24, '25G (2025).
FORMER FRIARS AT THE OLYMPICS
Former Providence College women's ice hockey players Sandra Abstreiter (Germany) '22, '23G, Sara Hjalmarsson (Sweden) '22, '23G and Noemi Neubauerová (Czechia) '23G have been selected to their respective national team rosters for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, scheduled for Feb. 5–19 in Italy. Abstreiter will be making her first Olympic appearance, Hjalmarsson her third and Neubauerová her second.
HOCKEY EAST PRESEASON POLL
The Friars were picked to finish ninth in the Hockey East Preseason Poll, which was released on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Northeastern was picked first with 89 points overall and eight first place votes.
CAPTAINS NAMED
Hannah Clarke (Richmond Hill, Ont.) and Audrey Knapp were named captains for the 2026-27 season. Emma Hofbauer (Vomperbach, Austria) was named an alternate captain.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Clarkson enters the weekend matchup as No. 10/11 in the polls. The Golden Knights recently grabbed their third and fourth straight victory to improve to 6-2-0 overall. In their most recent matchup, Clarkson swept Franklin Pierce, allowing one goal across the two games. On Friday, Oct. 16, the Golden Knights netted three straight goals in a 3-1 victory against Franklin Pierce to open the series at home. Clarkson finished the sweep with a 7-0 shutout against the Ravens, including going 3/3 on the power play. Clarkson was picked to finish fourth in the ECAC Preseason Poll after receiving 97 points including one first place vote.
WHO TO WATCH FOR CLARKSON
Sophomore forward Sara Manness returns to action after being named the ECAC Hockey Player of the Year last season. Manness also grabbed the league's Forward and Rookie of the Year honors, and was a member of the All-League First Team and All-Rookie Team. In her freshman campaign, she led the ECAC with 21 goals and 31 assists for 52 points. She became the first Clarkson player to score a goal in 10 consecutive games. This season, Manness has totaled four goals and four assists for eight points across six games. Manness was a unanimous selection for this season's All-ECAC Preseason Team.
Another sophomore returner, Kate Manness, comes into her second season with the Golden Knights after being named to the All-League First Team and All-Rookie Team. The defender led the team in blocked shots (25) and tied for third in assists (18) in league play. Manness posted an 11-game point streak of three goals and 17 assists last season. In her first six games this season, she has posted two goals and six assists for eight points.
ALL-TIME SERIES WITH THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Providence trails the all-time series, 4-8-1. Providence's last victory against Clarkson came on Oct. 17, 2025 in a 2-1 win in Providence, R.I. The Friars split the series, as the following day Clarkson shutout Providence, 3-0, at Schneider Arena.
-GO FRIARS!-
OCTOBER 23 | CHEEL ARENA | POTSDAM, N.Y. | 6:00 PM
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OCTOBER 24 | CHEEL ARENA | POTSDAM, N.Y. | 3:00 PM
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POTSDAM, N.Y. – The Providence College women's hockey team will face off against No. 10/11 Clarkson University this weekend in a non-conference matchup. Providence will head to Potsdam, N.Y. to face the Golden Knights on Friday, Oct. 23 at 6:00 p.m., followed by a 3:00 p.m. start time on Saturday.
SCOUTING THE FRIARS
Providence enters the weekend series 3-3-0 overall and 1-1-0 in conference. On Friday, Oct. 9 the Friars were shutout, 2-0, by No. 7/6 Northeastern on Friday, Oct. 9 in Schneider Arena. Sophomore goalkeeper Mallory Hartl (Askov, Minn.) finished with a game-high 30 saves despite the loss. The Friars bounced back the next day with a 3-2 overtime win against Boston College on Saturday, Oct. 10. Three different Friars scored in the win including junior Josie Lang (Stillwater, Minn.), for her first career goal, and junior Emma Hofbauer (Vomberbach, Austria). Junior Hannah Clarke (Richmond Hill, Ontario) scored the game winning goal for the Friars to put Providence back in the win column. The last time Providence notched an overtime win was also against the Eagles in a 2-1 victory on Feb. 13, 2026.
RETURNING FOR THE FRIARS
Providence returns senior forward Audrey Knapp (Stevens Point, Wis.), who reached 20-plus points for the second consecutive season last year. The rising senior posted seven goals and 16 assists for 23 points and was one of four Friars to reach the 20-point mark. In the 2024-25 season, Knapp was named a Hockey East First Team All-Star, tied for the conference lead in goals with 15 and finished the season with 35 points.
Senior forward Kiara Kraft (Churchville, N.Y.) and junior forward Emma Hofbauer (Vomperbach, Austria) also return for the Friars. Both players recorded 10-plus points with Kraft recording five goals and seven assists for 12 points while Hofbauer posted five goals and five assists for 10 points.
On defense, junior Hannah Clarke (Richmond Hill, Ont.) led the returning defenseman last season in points with one goal and seven assists for eight points.
FRESH FRIAR FACES
Providence welcomes 10 new players (two transfers and eight freshmen) to the roster for the 2026-27 season. Reese Strauts (Brandon, Wis.) and Hanna Olson (Andover, Minn.) are two sophomore transfers from St. Cloud State University and St. Lawrence University, respectively. The eight freshmen are Bianca Birrittieri (Flower Mound, Texas), Avery Ide (Skaneateles, N.Y.), Elizabeth Janovski (Stouffville, Ontario), Reese Kletke (Oakville, Ontario), Mirella Martinelli (North Providence, R.I.), Mackenzie Riches (Pickering, Ontario), Cameryn Shiels (Surrey, British Columbia) and Grace Van Volsen (Whitby, Ontario).
NICOLE NORTON NAMED INTERIM HEAD COACH
It was announced on Aug. 16 that Providence College women's ice hockey Head Coach Matt Kelly stepped down. Assistant Coach Nicole Norton will take over the program as interim head coach, while Assistant Coach Katie Burt will be elevated to interim associate head coach.
HITTING THE ROAD
The Friars began their first of six straight road games against Boston College on Oct. 10. Providence defeated the Eagles 3-2 in overtime and are now 2-1-0 on the road to start the season.
FOUR FRIARS HEADED TO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Three Friar alumni (Sandra Abstreiter '22, '23G with Germany, Sara Hjalmarsson '22, '23G with Sweden and Noemi Neubauerová '23G with Czechia) and one current Friar (Emma Hofbauer with Austria) have been named to their respective nations for the 2026 IIHF World Championships in Denmark from Nov. 6-16. It will mark Neubauerová's eighth, Hjalmarsson's seventh, Abstreiter's sixth and Hofbauer's first World Championships.
DANIELLE SLOMINSKI JOINS STAFF AS ASSISTANT COACH
Head Coach Nicole Norton announced on Sept. 21 that Danielle Slominski has joined her staff as an assistant coach. Slominski spent the last two seasons at the University of Vermont, where she served as an assistant coach and director of hockey operations.
SANDRA ABSTREITER WINS WALTER CUP
Former Friar goaltender Sandra Abstreiter was a member of the Montréal Victoire PWHL team that won the Walter Cup in the 2025-26 season. Abstreiter became the first Friar to win the Walter Cup.
CINDY CURLEY TO THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME
Cindy Curley '85 will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026 as announced on June 22, 2026. Curley ranks third all-time in Providence history with 225 career points and helped lead the Friars to their first two ECAC Championship titles in 1984 and 1985. She will join Cammi Granato '93 as the only Friar women's hockey alumni inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. The induction will be held on November 9 in Toronto, Ontario.
BIANCA BIRRITTIERI WINS GOLD
Freshman goaltender Bianca Birrittieri won gold with the United States national team at the U18 Women's World Championship in Cape Breton, Canada on Sunday, Jan. 18. Birrittieri played in four games for the United States and posted a 0.50 goals-against average, a .975 save percentage, two shutouts and a 4-0-0 record. In the gold medal game against Canada, Birrittieri recorded a shutout with 38 saves and was named Player of the Game. Birrittieri, originally from Flower Mound, Texas, will join the Friars next season.
BIANCA BIRRITTIERI AND MIRELLA MARTINELLI INVITED TO USA HOCKEY WOMEN'S NATIONAL FESTIVAL
Freshman goaltender Bianca Birrittieri (Flower Mound, Texas) and freshman defenseman Mirella Martinelli (North Providence, R.I.) were invited to the 2026 USA Hockey Women's National Festival on Aug. 2-9 at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, N.Y. The group was comprised of 46 collegiate players and 46 players under the age of 18. The festival marked Birrittieri's third appearance and Martinelli's second at the Festival.
REICHEN KIRCHMAIR SELECTED IN 2026 PWHL DRAFT
Former Friars Reichen Kirchmair (Oakville, Ontario) '26 was selected in the 2026 PWHL Draft. Kirchmair was chosen in the sixth round (64th overall) by PWHL San Jose. Kirchmair becomes the fifth Friar in program history to be selected in the PWHL Draft, joining Sandra Abstreiter '22, '23G (2023), Noemi Neubauerová '23G (2024), Sara Hjalmarsson '22, '23G (2025) and Brooke Becker '24, '25G (2025).
FORMER FRIARS AT THE OLYMPICS
Former Providence College women's ice hockey players Sandra Abstreiter (Germany) '22, '23G, Sara Hjalmarsson (Sweden) '22, '23G and Noemi Neubauerová (Czechia) '23G have been selected to their respective national team rosters for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, scheduled for Feb. 5–19 in Italy. Abstreiter will be making her first Olympic appearance, Hjalmarsson her third and Neubauerová her second.
HOCKEY EAST PRESEASON POLL
The Friars were picked to finish ninth in the Hockey East Preseason Poll, which was released on Wednesday, Sept. 16. Northeastern was picked first with 89 points overall and eight first place votes.
CAPTAINS NAMED
Hannah Clarke (Richmond Hill, Ont.) and Audrey Knapp were named captains for the 2026-27 season. Emma Hofbauer (Vomperbach, Austria) was named an alternate captain.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Clarkson enters the weekend matchup as No. 10/11 in the polls. The Golden Knights recently grabbed their third and fourth straight victory to improve to 6-2-0 overall. In their most recent matchup, Clarkson swept Franklin Pierce, allowing one goal across the two games. On Friday, Oct. 16, the Golden Knights netted three straight goals in a 3-1 victory against Franklin Pierce to open the series at home. Clarkson finished the sweep with a 7-0 shutout against the Ravens, including going 3/3 on the power play. Clarkson was picked to finish fourth in the ECAC Preseason Poll after receiving 97 points including one first place vote.
WHO TO WATCH FOR CLARKSON
Sophomore forward Sara Manness returns to action after being named the ECAC Hockey Player of the Year last season. Manness also grabbed the league's Forward and Rookie of the Year honors, and was a member of the All-League First Team and All-Rookie Team. In her freshman campaign, she led the ECAC with 21 goals and 31 assists for 52 points. She became the first Clarkson player to score a goal in 10 consecutive games. This season, Manness has totaled four goals and four assists for eight points across six games. Manness was a unanimous selection for this season's All-ECAC Preseason Team.
Another sophomore returner, Kate Manness, comes into her second season with the Golden Knights after being named to the All-League First Team and All-Rookie Team. The defender led the team in blocked shots (25) and tied for third in assists (18) in league play. Manness posted an 11-game point streak of three goals and 17 assists last season. In her first six games this season, she has posted two goals and six assists for eight points.
ALL-TIME SERIES WITH THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Providence trails the all-time series, 4-8-1. Providence's last victory against Clarkson came on Oct. 17, 2025 in a 2-1 win in Providence, R.I. The Friars split the series, as the following day Clarkson shutout Providence, 3-0, at Schneider Arena.
-GO FRIARS!-
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/ Women's Ice HockeySaturday, February 16
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