Belanger Makes 31 Saves as UConn Tops St. Cloud State in OT, 1-0
Freshman forward Natalie Snodgrass scores in overtime for Huskies

Senior netminder Annie Belanger made 31 saves for the Huskies
Prd Time  Team Score Type Scored By Assists
OT 0:45  CON1-0 EV GW Natalie Snodgrass (1)Theresa Knutson/1, Rebecca Lindblad/1
Scoring 1st 2nd 3rd OT Final
UConn  00011
St. Cloud State  00000
Shots on Goal 1st 2nd 3rd OT SOG
UConn  669122
St. Cloud State  2208131
Team Stats and Records  PP PIM SHGF
UConn (1-0-0)  0/4 2/4 0
St. Cloud State (0-1-0)  0/2 4/8 0
UConn Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 OT Saves
Annie Belanger (W, 1-0-0)60:450 2208131
St. Cloud State Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 OT Saves
Janine Alder (L, 0-1-0)60:431 669021
Empty Net0:020      

ST. CLOUD, Minn. - Freshman Natalie Snodgrass needed just one game to make her presence felt for the UConn women's ice hockey team, as her goal just 45 seconds into overtime led her team past St. Cloud State in the season-opener, 1-0, on Friday night at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.

The Huskies (1-0-0, 0-0-0 WHEA) earned an overtime win against the SCSU Huskies in large part to a masterful performance by senior goalie Annie Belanger between the posts - recording 31 saves, including 20 in the second period alone.

A scoreless game heading to overtime, Snodgrass capitalized on a pass from senior Theresa Knutson in front of the net - beating SCSU goalie Janine Alder to give UConn a sudden victory not even one minute into the extra period.

Knutson and junior Rebecca Lindblad each recorded assists on the tally - the first of Snodgrass' career. Natalie's older sister, Emily, played four seasons for the Huskies and graduated in 2015.

Despite being outshot 31-21, UConn picked up a non-conference win in its opener for the second-straight season. The Husky defense recorded 10 blocked shots against SCSU, keeping its offensive attack in check.

Snodgrass led all players with six shots, proving the most worthy candidate to find the back of the net. Neither team could score on power play chances, as they combined to go 0-for-6 on such opportunities.

The Huskies were outshot, 20-6, in the second period, but Belanger's strong performance saved UConn from facing a deficit. The senior goalie's 20 saves included a pair of stops on a power play for SCSU following senior Leah Lum's checking penalty.

Senior captain Justine Fredette, Knutson and Lindblad started up front for the Huskies, while junior Jaime Fox and sophomore Emily Reid held down the backline. Belanger played all 60-plus minutes in net, picking up where she left off in 2016.

UConn gets a rematch with SCSU on Saturday, as puck drop is scheduled for 4 p.m. (ET) and will be available on St. Cloud State's live broadcast.