Storrs, Conn. - Two first-period goals led the Huskies to a weekend sweep over Hockey East rival UNH today with a 2-1 victory at Freitas Ice Forum. Sophomore Kelly Horan (Methuen, Mass.) put home the game-winning goal at 14:39 of the first period. Junior goaltender Alexandra Garcia (Pointe-Claire, Quebec) made 26 saves in net.
Connecticut improves to 4-7-1 (3-2-1 WHEA) while New Hampshire falls to 8-5-0 (2-3-0 WHEA).
New Hampshire opened the scoring just 2:11 into the game when Sarah Campbell stuffed home an Emma Clark pass at the top of the crease to put UNH up, 1-0.
The Huskies would respond at 10:49 with a great individual effort from freshman Taylor Gross (Colorado Springs, Colo.). Gross took a pass at the red line from junior Rebecca Hewitt (Oak Bluff, Manitoba) before stick-handling past a UNH defender at the top of the circle. Gross then lifted a shot into the top-right corner for her fifth goal of the season. Hewitt earned her third assist of the year on the play.
Horan would make it 2-0 with another shot into the top corner. Freshman Alexandra Vakos (Hamden, Conn.) sent a pass from behind the net to Horan in front who snapped a shot over the right shoulder of UNH goaltender Lindsey Minton for her third goal of the year. Vakos recorded her second assist on the goal. Senior Brittany Murphy (Tewksbury, Mass.) earned her first assist of the season with a pass to Vakos to start the play.
After one period, UConn held the edge in shots, 8-6.
The Wildcats came out for the second and earned an 8-1 advantage in shots on goal. Garcia came up with all-eight saves to keep the score at 2-1, in favor of the Huskies.
UConn escaped the second period with a bit of luck after a pair of UNH shots rang off the pipe in the first-three minutes of the period.
New Hampshire came out firing to begin the third period. The Wildcats put 13 shots on goal, including another shot off the pipe, but Garcia shut the door to keep UConn ahead, 2-1.
With just over a minute remaining, the Wildcats pulled their goalie for the extra attacker. The man-advantage produced five shots on goal but Garcia came up big to earn the victory.
For the game, New Hampshire held the edge in shots, 27-17.
The Huskies will be in action next with a 2:00 p.m. contest at Vermont in Burlington on Saturday, November 20.