Written by Tyler Kuehl
 
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – After a big win over Aquinas on Wednesday night, the women's hockey team traveled to Happy Valley for a pair of non-conference games. Their first of the weekend saw them take on the Rams from the University of Rhode Island. The Panthers beat the Rams early in the 2017-18 season, with Rhode Island knocking for DU in October of 2018.
 
Davenport held on for as long as they could in the first period, as the game was scoreless for over 19 minutes. However, Rhode Island broke through in the final minute of the period, and opened the game in the second period. The Rams' four goals in the middle frame and another two in the third helped them pick up their sixth win of the season.
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: Davenport 1 – Rhode Island 7
Shots: DU 21 | URI 47
Power Play: DU (0/1) | URI (0/0)
Records: DU (6-14-1) | URI (6-12)
 
HOLDING ON
 
The Rams came ready to play, and showered the Panthers with chances in the opening 20 minutes. Julia Gaynor stood tall almost the entire 20 minutes, but in the final minute of the period, Jillian Gonsalves scored her seventh of the season to break the ice.
 
RAMMING SPEED
 
In the second period, Rhode Island were able to make up for all their missed opportunities they had in the first. Abbi Sampson potted her fourth of the year just over seven minutes into the frame, followed up by Emma Gerike's second 58 seconds later to open the Rams' lead up to three.
 
Leading-scorer Brynne Costa scored her third goal of the season with a little over six minutes left in the second, and in the dying moments of the frame, Madison Balutowski scored to send Rhode Island into the third period with a five-goal lead.
 
Tea Williams would further extend the Rhode Island with her sixth goal of the season minutes into the stanza. Adriannah Letts would help put the Panthers on the board with her fourth of the season just passed the halfway mark of the period, with Elizabeth O'Connor and Zoie Amatore getting the assists.
 
Just a couple minutes later, Anita Mayfield-Sheehan capped off the scoring with her second of the season, and the Rams would take home the 7-1 victory.
 
WHO'S NEXT?
 
The Panthers will meet with the host Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday night. DU has won all three meeting against Penn State, picking up wins in each of the last three seasons. Puck drop at Pegula Ice Arena is set for 8 p.m.