SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Senior forward Kristina Lavoie (Fonthill, Ontario) notched the game winning goal on a power play with 1:34 remaining in New Hampshire's 4-3 win at Syracuse Friday afternoon. The win puts the Wildcats at 1-0-0 in their first game while the Orange fall to 0-1-0. Sara Carlson (Hutchinson, Minn.) had a goal and an assist in the game.
Carlson tallied her first point of the night at the 4:46 mark of the first period with a goal to give the 'Cats a 1-0 lead. Senior captains Kailey Chappell (Pickering, Ontario) and Katie Brock (Marblehead, Mass.) assisted Carlson on the play. Syracuse responded at 7:04 when Holly Carrie-Mattimoe tallied her first of two goals of the night on a power play. Caitlin Roach tallied the assist on the play. The remainder of the period remained deadlocked at 1-1.
Just over a minute into the second period, Carrie-Mattimoe notched her second goal of the game and the first lead of the game for the Orange. Laurie Kingsbury and Shiann Darkangelo assisted Carrie-Mattimoe on the play. The Wildcats were quick to respond their second goal of the game when freshman Lauren Kirwan (DeWitt, N.Y.) tallied her first goal of the season on an unassisted play. Junior Jessica Hitchcock (LaSalle, Ontario) gave New Hampshire its lead back at 6:00 with a goal that was assisted by Carlson. Syracuse re-tied the game at 3-3 with 12:27 remaining in the second period when Roach netted her first goal and second point of the afternoon. At the end of the second period, the game was again tied at 3-3.
With 1:34 remaining in regulation, Lavoie tallied her first goal of the season and the only goal of the third period for both sides on a power play. Lavoie was unassisted on the play. After the remaining time passed, the Wildcats emerged victorious by a score of 4-3, securing their first win of the season.
Freshman netminder Vilma Vaattovaara (Veikkola, Finland) received the win in net for the Wildcats in her first collegiate start. The goalie registered 35 saves on 38 shots faced during the game, including 12 in the second period and 15 in the third period of play. Jenesica Drinkwater got the loss in net for Syracuse after allowing four goals on 16 shots faced. New Hampshire was 1-for-4 on the power play while Syracuse was 1-for-6 with the advantage. The Orange outshot the Wildcats 38-20 in the game.
New Hampshire will be right back in action tomorrow when they take on Colgate. The puck is set to drop at 4 p.m.