COLUMBUS, OHIO - The UConn women's hockey team saw their season come to a close on Thursday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, losing a heartbreaking double overtime decision to Minnesota Duluth at Ohio State.Huskies game winning goal waved off for offsides.
Goaltenders and defense were the highlight of the first three periods, as neither team was able to find the back of the net in regulation. Junior goaltender Tia Chan once again impressed by making 30 saves through three periods to hold Minnesota Duluth scoreless.
The Huskies laid it all on the line, doing everything they could to stop a strong offensive attack from the Bulldogs. The Huskies defense in front of Tia Chan blocked 28 total shots, which helped keep the Bulldogs scores through four total periods of play. The Huskies had opportunities to open the scoring, however freshman Eve Gascon and the Bulldogs stood strong, making save after save to hold the Huskies scoreless.
As the game progressed, the Huskies got better. UConn continued to pressure the Bulldogs defense looking to breakthrough. With neither team being able to score in regulation, the teams would head to a sudden death 20-minute overtime period.
In the first overtime, Minnesota Duluth jumped the Huskies, looking to find the game winning goal. UConn weathered the early attack from the Bulldogs and began to take some of the momentum back. With two minutes remaining in the first overtime period, a penalty on the Bulldogs put the Huskies on the power play. UConn had multiple chances to net the winner, but after hitting the post once and then multiple saves by Minnesota Duluth, time would run out and the teams would head to a second overtime period.
In the second overtime period, it was all UConn from the jump. The Huskies instantly jumped on the attack and were pressuring the Bulldogs. With 10 minutes remaining in the second overtime, graduate student Claire Peterson fired a shot from the point past Gascon for the game winner, however upon review the referees ruled that UConn was offsides, and the goal was waved off. With three minutes remaining in the second overtime period, after a Duluth faceoff, the Bulldogs scored the game winning goal after a loose puck in front of the net deflected and bounced to Mannon McMahon.
Junior goaltender Tia Chan finished with 48 saves in the loss.
With the loss, the Huskies finish their season with a 25-8-5 overall record.
