STORRS, Conn. (Oct. 11, 2008) - The University of Connecticut women's ice hockey team battled to a 4-4 tie against No. 7/6 St. Lawrence in its first overtime game of the season. UConn had a two-goal advantage at the end of the second period before the Saints scored twice early in the third. The score remained tied through regulation on Saturday at Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum.
With three saves in the overtime period, Brittony Chartier was forced to stop several solid scoring opportunities by the Huskies as time expired. Alexandra Garcia (Pointe-Claire, Que./Dawson College) made 27 saves in her second start of the season for UConn, including three in overtime.
UConn (3-1-1) had a two-goal advantage going into the final period in regulation time after the Huskies twice in the second period. Dominique Thibault (L'Original, Ont./Montreal Axion NWHL) gave UConn its second lead of the game midway through the second period. Moments later, Garcia made back-to-back saves to protect the Huskies one-goal edge (3-2).
Amy Hollstein (Pembroke, Mass./Lawrence Academy) scored her fourth of the season on the ensuing possession, less than three minutes after Thibault's second of the game.
With the Huskies in the lead 4-2, St. Lawrence's Karell Emard scored under a minute after the puck dropped in the third period. At 2:30 in the third, Tara Akstull followed with an unassisted goal for the Saints, tying the game (4-4).
Despite several late scoring chances for the Huskies in the waning seconds of regulation, UConn took its first game of the season to overtime.
In the first period, Thibault scored her first goal, opening scoring a mere 17 seconds on a breakaway opportunity. St. Lawrence (1-0-1) responded with one of their own as Lisa Batchelor scored to tie the game, 1-1.
The Huskies went on the power play at 15:06 in the first period for the first time against the Saints. Michelle Binning and Thibault each tried to get one past Chartier to break the 1-1 tie, but the Saints netminder made the saves. Penalty killing proved to be critical in the game as neither team scored on the power play.
Monique Weber (Rogers, Minn.) scored her second of the season in the final minute of the first period to tie the game, 2-2. Sami Evelyn (Nepeon, Ont.) and Jennifer Chaisson (Cumberland, Ont.) had the assists.
St. Lawrence had a slight advantage in shots, 31-28 while the Saints register four shots during their three power-plays. UConn registered two shots in each of its two power-play chances.
The women's ice hockey team resumes actions at Freitas Ice Forum on Wednesday, Oct. 15 for its first Hockey East match-up of the season. UConn opens the conference slate with a 7 p.m. game against New Hampshire.
Game Notes
This is the first game this season that the Huskies did not score at least one power-play goal.
Dominique Thibault has recorded at least one point in each game this season and has had two points in each of this weekend's contests. Thibault scored a goal and added an assist against Colgate on Friday and with two goals against St. Lawrence on Saturday finished the weekend with four points.