BURLINGTON, Vt. - Junior forward Erin Wente scored 9:43 into the third period to give Vermont a 2-1 win over New Hampshire in Hockey East action at Gutterson Fieldhouse Sunday afternoon.
The Wildcats struck first for the second straight afternoon. Nicole Gifford took a drop pass from Kristina Lavoie and beat Vermont goaltender Roxanne Douville, who was screened on the play, with a quick wrist shot. Gifford's 10th goal of the season came with just 48 seconds left in the period.
New Hampshire goaltender Lindsey Minton made several great saves on Vermont chances early in the second period. The Catamounts were able to break through 13:09 into the second frame. Kellie Dineen cut down the wing and beat Minton blocker side with a snap shot. Dineen's team leading seventh goal of the season was assisted by Brittany Zuback and Kailey Nash.
Vermont kept the pressure on through the end of the second period, outshooting New Hampshire 15-6, but they could not put another past Minton.
Midway through the third period the Catamounts broke the deadlock. Amanda Pelkey skated along the blueline and fed her defensive partner Greer Vogl who was open just outside the slot. Vogl got off a quick shot that was stopped by Minton, but with two Catamounts open in front Wente was able to put the rebound in for her sixth goal of the season.
The Catamounts had to kill off one New Hampshire power play in the final half of the third period but their sustained forecheck kept the Wildcats hemmed in their own end.
Douville made 19 saves for Vermont earning her third win of the season, Minton made 30 saves for the Wildcats.
"We just competed and played some pretty good hockey for 60 minutes," said Head Coach Tim Bothwell. "For us to rebound from yesterday and compete the way we did tonight and get the job done I think it sets us up well for next weekend at Maine."
The win moves Vermont to 4-16-6 overall and 3-10-2 in Hockey East play. The loss drops New Hampshire to 10-15-3 and 4-9-2 in league play. The Catamounts trail New Hampshire by two points for the final Hockey East playoff spot.
NOTES: Erin Wente scored the game-winning goal on Feb. 3, 2010 in a 2-1 win over New Hampshire, the Catamounts first in program history ... Vermont is 3-1-0 in its last four meetings with the Wildcats at Gutterson Fieldhouse ... Over the final two periods Vermont outshot UNH 24-11 ... Vermont won 30 of the 46 faceoffs, Emily Walsh won a team best 17 draws ... Amanda Pelkey had two goals and one assist in Vermont's home-and-home series with New Hampshire this weekend.