CONNECTICUT NOTCHES 5-2 WIN OVER MAINE
Cristin Allen scores two goals for Huskies

Cristin Allen registered two goals for the Huskies

STORRS, Conn. (Nov. 8, 2008) - Defensemen Cristin Allen (Pickering, Ont./Durham Lightning) scored twice in the University of Connecticut women's ice hockey team's 5-2 win over Maine on Saturday afternoon. The pair of goals were Allen's first of the season while Dominique Thibault (L'Orignal, Ont./Montreal Axion NWHL) tallied her 11th on the year to open scoring in the game at Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum.

With the man advantage, Amy Hollstein (Pembroke, Mass./Lawrence Academy) put the Huskies ahead for good as the second period came to a close. Hollstein redirected the initial shot from the point by Michelle Binning (Oshawa, Ont./Toronto Jr. Aeros. Inter.) past Genevieve Turgeon at 19:49 in the second period. Jody Sydor (St. Alberta, Alta./Sturgeon Composite) also had an assist on Hollstein's power-play goal, giving UConn a 3-2 edge.

UConn scored twice in the final period of regulation to pull away from the Black Bears as the Huskies continued to outshoot their opponent in the game (41-13). Allen scored for the second time in the game directing a rolling puck behind Turgeon's right pad at 6:24. Jessica Lutz (Rockville, Md./Washington Christian Acad.) and Brittany Murphy (Tewksbury, Mass./Lawrence Acad.) had the assists.

Binning's goal gave the game its 5-2 final with Thibault and Rebecca Hewett (Oak Bluff, Man./APHA Rangers) adding the assists. Binning scored her eighth of the season with just under eight minutes remaining in the game.

At the seven minute mark in the first period, Thibault opened scoring with a shot to the top right corner of the net just under the cross bar, getting the puck above Turgeon's glove for an early 1-0 lead.

Jennie Gallo responded with her fourth of the season a mere 41 seconds later to tie the game, 1-1. Gallo came into the game as one of three Black Bear scoring leaders with three goals this season.

Allen's first goal was unassisted at 4:33 in the second period, regaining the lead (2-1) for the Huskies. Maine would tie the game again at 15:27 with Gallo scoring for the second time. Jenna Ouellette once again had an assist on the Black Bear goal.

It was Hollstein's power-play goal late in the second period that would be the game-winning mark for UConn. The 5-2 game winner was Hollstein's second of the season.

Brittany Wilson (Nepean, Ont./Ottawa Inter. AA) made 11 saves in her fourth win of the season (4-1-2). Turgeon stopped 36 Husky shots, suffering her seventh loss of the season (1-7-0).

UConn continues the season on Saturday, Nov. 13 at Boston College for a 7 p.m. game.

Game Notes

- UConn is now 12-10-2 against Maine all-time and have improved to 6-5-2 when facing the Black Bears at Freitas Ice Forum. The Huskies have won the last seven consecutive games over the Black Bears.

- Cristin Allen scored a career-high two goals in a single game once before. She scored twice on Jan. 12 at Vermont last season. Allen continues to lead the team with nine assists this season.

- Michelle Binning has scored one goal in each of the last three games, scoring the final goal in Saturday afternoon's game.

- The Huskies have scored on the power play at least once in eight of the 11 games played this season. Binning leads UConn with five power-play goals with Amy Hollstein scoring her second of the season against Maine.