BURLINGTON, Vt. - Brianne Kilgour had two goals and an assist as the Maine Black Bears scored four first period goals to defeat Vermont 4-3 Saturday afternoon at Gutterson Fieldhouse in Hockey East action.
The Catamounts started the game on the power play because the Black Bears received a bench minor due to lineup infraction. Vermont took advantage of the early opportunity. Emily Walsh tipped home a Gina Repaci point shot to give Vermont an 1-0 lead 1:36 into the contest.
The Black Bears quickly recovered netting the equalizer just 31 seconds later. Kilgour took advantage of a rebound that bounced off the glass and back in front of the net. Her backhand attempt was deflected by a Vermont defender up and over Roxanne Douville (24 saves) for her fifth goal of the season.
Three minutes later Kilgour struck again with a shorthanded goal. Douville misplayed the puck on the power play and Kilgour walked in alone and scored her second of the night with a quick wrist shot.
At the 7:56 mark of the first period the Black Bears added another early tally to take a two-goal lead. Brooklyn Langlois scored her first career collegiate goal from the point on a shot Douville couldn't see through a screen.
After Maine's third goal in just under eight minutes Vermont replaced Douville with senior Kelci Lanthier.
Audra Richards added a fourth Black Bears goal at the 9:21 mark of the 1st period. Richards corralled a loose puck in front and beat a screened Lanthier (2 saves) with a well-placed shot. After Maine's fourth goal Vermont head coach Jim Plumer called a timeout and put Douville back into the Vermont net.
The Catamounts chipped away at the Black Bears lead in the second period. Dayna Colang scored her first collegiate goal at the 9:20 mark of the period to bring Vermont within two. Colang walked in from the point and her first shot was blocked in the slot, but she got her own rebound and beat Maine goaltender Brittany Ott with a quick second shot. Kellie Dineen and Erin Wente received assists on the play.
At the 8:46 mark of the third period the Catamounts made it a one-goal game on a transition play. Greer Vogl passed up to Dineen who entered the Maine zone cutting to the slot, Dineen's initial shot was blocked by a Maine defender but a trailing Sarah Campbell took the puck and fired it past Ott for her fourth goal of the season.
The Catamounts had sustained pressure in the Maine zone late in the game but they were unable to equalize. Ott earned her fifth win of the season making 37 saves for the Black Bears.
"Once again I'm disappointed that we started so slowly," said head coach Jim Plumer. "Maine played a great first period and we weren't able to match that it in any aspect of the game. I'm proud of the way we finished the last 40 minutes and I hope we bring that same level of focus and intensity for the entire 60 minutes tomorrow."
Vermont returns to action tomorrow afternoon as they host Maine at 2 p.m. in their final regular season meeting.
Tickets for all UVM home games can be purchased online at UVMathletics.com, via the phone at 802-656-4410 or the day of the game at the Gutterson Fieldhouse Ticket Office.
NOTES: Gina Repaci has recorded a point in her last four games, she has one goal and five assists over that span ... Vermont was 2-for-10 on the power play and killed off all five Maine power play chances ... Amanda Pelkey won 20 of the 34 faceoffs she took to lead the team ... Greer Vogl blocked two shots to add to her team-leading total of 48.