STORRS, Conn. -- A game-winning goal from Kayla Campero (Wallingford, Conn.) in the waning moments of overtime gave the UConn women's hockey team (1-3-0) its first of the win of the season, 3-2, over Colgate (0-3-0) on Friday night at Freitas Ice Forum.
Campero's goal, a redirection of an Emily Snodgrass (Eastview, Minn.) shot, came with 10.6 seconds to play in the extra period. The Huskies jumped out to an early lead in the contest thanks to first period goals from Sarah MacDonnell (Quispamsis, New Brunswick) and Stephanie Raithby (London, Ontario), while Sarah Moses (New Hamburg, Ontario) was solid in net, making 42 saves.
The goals from Campero and MacDonnell both came on the power play, and UConn went 2-for-7 on the night with the man-advantage. Conversely, the Huskies' penalty kill unit was outstanding, snuffing all 11 Colgate chances, including two 5-on-3 opportunities.
Campero (1-1-2) and MacDonnell (1-1-2) both had multi-point nights for UConn, while Snodgrass, Michela Cava (Thunder Bay, Ontario) and Caitlin Hewes (Stillwater, Minn.) found their way onto the scoresheet with assists. Miriam Drubel had both of Colgate's goals, and Ashylnne Rando made 20 saves for the Raiders.
UConn got the scoring started in game's first period, connecting for the first time this year on the power play. After Colgate's Liz Trautz went off at 6:55 for hooking, the Huskies got a strong cycle going with Cava and Hewes working it around the top to MacDonnell. The junior blasted a shot from the point, and thanks to a screen from Leah Burres (Windsor, Ontario) was able to beat Rando for her second goal of the year.
Campero went off for UConn for cross-checking at 13:53, but Moses stood tall on a series of Colgate chances. None was more dangerous than a Trautz tip off a blast from point which Moses was able to snag. Upon being freed from the sin bin, Campero helped generate UConn's second goal. After forcing a turnover in neutral ice, the junior barreled in and ripped a shot on net. Rando made the initial save, but Raithby was awaiting the rebound and buried her first goal of the season.
Colgate got on the board early in the second period, striking 4:02 into the stanza. A turnover allowed the Raiders to generate a 3-on-1 opportunity, and Jocelyn Simpson patiently waited to make the feed to a wide-open Drubel, who blasted her first of the year past Moses to make it 2-1.
UConn had a pair of chances on the power player after a 'Gate infraction at 7:07, but two Snodgrass opportunities were stuffed by Rando. The Raiders took a 5-on-3 opportunity midway through the frame, after Campero and Erin Burns (Listowel, Ontario) both went off for UConn for roughing. Hewes, MacDonnell and Jessica Stott (Niverville, Manitoba) stood tall on the kill, and Moses made some big saves to keep the Huskies up one.
Colgate had another power play after a Rachel Farrel (Cheshire, Conn.) tripping call late in the period, but Moses made a pair of nifty saves on attempts by Taylor Craig to allow the Huskies to take their advantage into the third period.
Colgate struck quickly in the third to tie the contest, with Drubel ripping a shot off a turnover past everyone and into the UConn net. Neither team was able to find a winner for the remainder of regulation, despite a glut of chances. Midway through the period the teams traded 5-on-3 advantages in a wild sequence, but Moses and Rando both stood tall to force the contest to overtime.
The Raiders had the edge early in the extra fame, with Moses looking sharp and turning aside major chances from Trautz and Drubel. With 1:51 left before a tie, Katelyn Parker took a hooking call for 'Gate. The penalty proved costly, as 100 seconds later Campero found the game winner, getting a piece of a big Snodgrass rip that trickled past Rando for the win.
The Huskies and Raiders are back at it tomorrow afternoon, with a 2 p.m. matinee on tap at Freitas Ice Forum.