(HAMDEN, Conn.) - The UConn women's hockey team (4-10-2, 1-4-1 WHEA) fell in overtime to RIT (9-7-1, 4-1-1 CHA) in the consolation game of the 2013 Nutmeg Classic on Saturday afternoon at Quinnipiac's TD Bank Sports Center.
UConn got goals from Sarah MacDonnell (Quispamsis, New Brunswick), Rachel Farrel (Cheshire, Conn.) and Michela Cava (Thunder Bay, Ontario) in the setback, while Sarah Moses (New Hamburg, Ontario) made 31 saves in goal. UConn broke a 2-2 midway deadlock through the third period, but RIT tied the contest with less than two minutes left in regulation before an OT winner 2:06 into the extra frame.
The Huskies out-shot the Tigers 45-35 on the day, registering a new season-high in shots on goal. UConn couldn't convert on four power play chances, and RIT didn't find the back of the net on their two opportunities.
After a scoreless first period, UConn got the game's first goal just 1:20 into the second, with an unassisted strike from MacDonnell. RIT answered 10 minutes later, when Kolbee McCrea took a feed from Marissa Maugeri and Lindsay Grigg to tie the contest at 1-1. Farrel's goal came seven minutes later at 17:55 and was also unassisted. In total, the two teams combined for 35 shots on goal in a wild second period.
RIT again found an equalizer in the third, just 13 seconds into the frame with a Maugeri tally. At 9:50 of the period, Cava put the Huskies on top, 3-2, thanks to assists from Margaret Zimmer (St. Charles, Ill.) and Emily Snodgrass (Eagan, Minn.). The goal was Cava's fifth of the year and extended her point streak to five games, during which she has posted a 3-5-8 scoring line.
The Tigers then tied the game late in regulation, when Celeste Brown scored an extra attacker goal at 18:08 of the third. The game then went to overtime, where Erin Zach netted the game-winner 2:06 into the extra period. It was the first overtime loss for UConn after posting a 2-0-2 record in its first four extra time games this year.
With the loss, UConn places fourth in the 2013 Nutmeg Classic. The Huskies will have the month of December off before returning to action in 2014 with a two-game set at Princeton on Jan. 2 and 3.