BOSTON, Mass. - University of Connecticut freshman Kiana Nauheim (Fairbanks, Alaska) recorded her first collegiate goal at the 6:41 mark of the third period and the Huskies were able to add on three more goals during the final period en route to a 4-2 victory at Northeastern this afternoon. With the victory UConn secured home ice for the Hockey East quarterfinals and will wait until after this weekend's contests are complete to find out who they will face.
After two scoreless periods Northeastern and UConn combined for six third period goals, including two Connecticut goals just 25 seconds apart. Nauheim opened the scoring at the 6:41 mark recording her first collegiate goal and just her third point of the season after Sami Evelyn (Nepean, Ont.) and classmate Jocelyn Slattery (Hugo, Minn.) found her with the shot at the net.
Northeastern responded with a pair of goals during the middle of the period, as Stephanie Gavronsky and Rachel Llanes were each able to get the puck past Alexandra Garcia (Pointe-Claire, Que.), who tallied 33 saves in net for UConn. NU held on to their 2-1 lead for just three minutes though as Taylor Gross (Colorado Springs, Colo.) tied the game at the 15:03 mark with her team-leading 12th goal of the season.
Slattery recorded the game-winner just 25 seconds later as Jennifer Chaisson (Cumberland, Ont.) and Vakos fed her the puck when she had a good look at the net.
With just over one minute left in the game, Northeastern pulled their goalie for the extra skater advantage, but UConn struck again with Evelyn recording an empty net goal at the 19:34 mark, giving UConn the 4-2 victory.
Evelyn and Slattery each posted two points on the night, Evelyn with a goal and an assist and Vakos with two assists.
UConn held the slight advantage in shots on goal during the contest, recording 37 to Northeastern's 35, while Leah Sulyma also posted 33 saves for Northeastern.
UConn will conclude the regular season tomorrow, when the Huskies host Northeastern in a 1:00 p.m. game at the Freitas Ice Forum. Tomorrow's contest will serve as senior day for the trio of Jody Sydor, Jennifer Chaisson and Brittany Murphy.