BURLINGTON, Vt. - Brianne Kilgour had an shorthanded goal and two assists as she lead Maine to a 5-2 win over Vermont in Hockey East action at Gutterson Fieldhouse Wednesday afternoon.
The Black Bears opened the scoring with a goal at the 17:26 mark of the first period. Maine's Kelly McDonald converted a Vermont turnover into quick offense. McDonald corralled a loose puck in the Vermont end, skated into the slot and fed a cross-crease pass to Missy Denk who one-timed a shot past Vermont goaltender Roxanne Douville. Maine went into locker room up 1-0 off of Denk's sixth goal of the season.
Maine added to its lead with a shorthanded goal from Kilgour. On a rush into the Vermont zone Myriam Croussette put a hard low shot in on Douville. Kilgour beat a Vermont defender to the rebound and put it in for her second goal of the season 1:48 into the second period.
The Black Bears extended their lead minutes later on the power play. A Melissa Gagnon point shot was deflected in front and Danielle Ward found the loose puck after a scramble in front of the Vermont net and beat Douville, who was down and out on the play.
Vermont would get one back three minutes later on a two-man advantage. At the point Amanda Pelkey fed the puck down low to Klara Myren. Myren centered the puck and Krystal Baumann was able to fight through traffic and get a quick shot past Maine goaltender Brittany Ott's outstretched pad. Baumann's third of the season was Vermont's first goal in seven periods.
Maine reestablished its three-goal lead at the 16:42 mark of the second period. Ward scored her second of the game on the power play after another scramble in front of the Vermont net. Kilgour and Gagnon earned assists on the play.
Maine added an insurance marker 17:06 into the third period. Tori Pasquariello scored off a Vermont turnover, which Maine quickly transitioned into an odd man rush in front of the Catamount net. Kelci Lanthier, who came on in relief in the third period, couldn't make the save on another tic-tac-toe passing play from the Black Bears.
The Catamounts were able to respond 31 seconds later on the power play. Baumann scored her second of the night completing an impressive passing display from Meghan Huertas and Pelkey. The freshmen trio leads Vermont in scoring this season and had a combined five points on the day.
Ott made 23 saves to earn her fifth win of the season, in 40 minutes of action Douville made 29 save for Vermont. Lanthier made six saves in the third period.
The win moves Maine to 8-5-4 overall and 3-3-1 in Hockey East play. The loss drops Vermont to 2-9-4 and 2-6-0 in league play.
Vermont returns to action this weekend when it travels to Colgate for a two-game set.
NOTES: Maine outshot Vermont 40-25 ... The Catamounts have given up four shorthanded goals in their last three games ... With two assists today Amanda Pelkey now leads the team in scoring with nine points ... Vermont was 2-for-6 on the power play this afternoon, their best performance of the season ... Check back to UVMAthletics.com for highlights.