GILLIGAN STOPS 19 SHOTS TO LEAD NEW HAMPSHIRE PAST CONNECTICUT, 2-0
Sophomore goaltender Jenn Gilligan makes 19 saves for Wildcats

Sophomore goaltender Jenn Gilligan stopped 19 shots for the Wildcats

STORRS, Conn. - Sophomore netminder Jenn Gilligan (Maple Ridge, British Columbia) posted her first shutout of the season Sunday as the University of New Hampshire women's hockey squad completed a weekend sweep of Connecticut with a 2-0 win.

The win is the third straight for UNH and improves the team to 10-11-2 overall and to 6-4-1 in conference play while the Huskies tall to 3-19-2 overall and to 1-10-0 in Hockey East action. Sara Carlson (Hutchinson, Minn.) and Kristina Lavoie (Fonthill, Ontario) each tallied a goal for the 'Cats.

Carlson got the Wildcats on the board just 7:18 into the first period when she scored her sixth goal of the season on a power play. Kristine Horn (Utica, Mich.) and Alexis Crossley (Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia) assisted Carlson on the play.

With 3:24 remaining in the first, Lavoie tallied her second goal of the weekend and her sixth of the year to the give Wildcats a 2-0 advantage. Arielle O'Neill (St. Catherines, Ontario) tallied the primary assist while Carlson notched her second point of the day with the secondary assist on the play.

After the first period of play, UNH held a 2-0 lead. Gilligan went a perfect 6-for-6 on shots faced. The Wildcats outshot the Huskies 12-6 in the period.

The second period saw level offense from both sides with Connecticut holding a slight advantage (8-7), but to no avail. Gilligan made saves on all eight she faced while Elaine Chuli made seven saves on the seven shot she faced in the period. After two periods, New Hampshire remained ahead, 2-0.

In the third, the Wildcats upped the offensive attack over the Huskies, but solid goaltending led to a scoreless third period. After three periods of play, New Hampshire earned its first shutout of the season, beating UConn 2-0.

Gilligan earned her seventh win of the season in net, improving her record to 7-1-1 on the year. She made 19 stops on all 19 shots she faced. Chuli received the loss in net for the Huskies after making 24 saves on 26 shots faced. Her record stands at 1-12-2.

The Wildcats were 1-for-1 on the power play while Connecticut was held scoreless with the advantage, going 0-for-3.

The Wildcats return to action Thursday, Jan. 24 as they host Northeastern for the seventh annual Skating Strides Against Breast Cancer event. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.