Freshman forward Brianna Brooks scored two goals for the Wildcats
Brooks Scores Twice As New Hampshire Skates Past Merrimack, 4-0
Freshman forward Brianna Brooks scored two goals for the Wildcats

DURHAM, N.H. - Brianna Brooks (Whitby, Ontario) scored two goals, including the game-winning goal, while Ava Boutilier (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island) stopped all 12 shots she faced as the University of New Hampshire women's ice hockey team topped Merrimack College, 4-0, in Saturday night's Hockey East matchup at the Whittemore Center.

Brooks' two goals and two points both marked career highs, while Emily Rickwood (Brantford, Ontario) was the only other Wildcat to post a multi-point game with two assists, which matched her career high. Jada Christian (Caledon East, Ontario) and Lindsey Dumond (Hampton, N.H.) were the other two goal scorers for the Wildcats.

Boutilier made seven of her 12 saves in the first period. MC goalie Aries Mustoe was credited with 28 saves, including 12 in the opening stanza.

UNH (5-10-1, 5-10-1 HE) concluded the weekend sweep of Merrimack (1-9-0, 1-9-0 HE) without giving up a goal.


FIRST PERIOD SUMMARY

- Brooks found the back of the net just 53 seconds into the game off of a rebound after Nicole Kelly (Brantford, Ontario) fired a shot that was saved by Mustoe. Brooks poked home the rebound and Rickwood, with the stretch pass from the defensive zone, was also credited with an assist.

- UNH outshot Merrimack in the first period, 13-7. The Wildcats did not have a power play while the Warriors were 0-for-1.


SECOND PERIOD SUMMARY

- Christian potted the next goal for the Wildcats just 1:27 into the second period on the power play. The rebound off of a shot from the slot by Lauren Martin (Cambridge, Ontario) bounced off the pad of Mustoe to Christian's stick, who slid the puck into the open left side of the net. Rickwood once again received the secondary assist.

- Dumond extended the lead to 3-0 less than three minutes later when Avery Myers (Fargo, N.D.) stole the puck in the neutral zone to create a 2-on-1 rush for the Wildcats. From the right wing, she slid the puck across the crease to a cutting Dumond, who redirected the puck past Mustoe.

- The Wildcats outshot the Warriors 10-3 in the second stanza. UNH was 1 of 2 on the power play while Merrimack was 0-for-1.


THIRD PERIOD SUMMARY

- Brooks netted her second goal of the game just 1:13 into the third period after Chavonne Truter (Uxbridge, Ontario) blasted a shot from the slot that was saved by Mustoe. Brooks found the rebound at the left doorstep and backhanded the puck into the net. Brianna Legros (New Liskeard, Ontario) tallied the secondary assist.

- UNH outshot Merrimack 9-2 in the final frame. Both teams went 0-for-2 on the power play in the third period.


UNH NOTEBOOK

- UNH recorded back-to-back shutouts for the first time in nearly a decade: Feb. 12, 2011 at Vermont (2-0 win) and Feb. 19 at Boston College (0-0 tie).

- Boutilier increased her career saves total to 2,178, which ranks second in program history. Jen Huggon holds the benchmark of 2,851.

- Boutilier is No. 4 in career minutes at 4746:04; third on the list is Alicia Roberts at 6526:33.

- With the back-to-back blankings of the Warriors, Boutilier's shutout streak is at 122:04.

- Maddie Truax (Gardner, Mass.) led UNH with two blocked shots.

- In addition to her assist, Martin won 9 of 13 faceoffs. She tallied three points (1g, 2a) in the weekend series.

- Christian, who was 4-0 in the faceoff circle Saturday night, tallied three points (1g, 2a) in the weekend series.

- It was Dumond's second goal of the season and fourth of her career.

- Myers increased her team-leading totals to eight assists and 11 points.


SERIES NOTEBOOK

- UNH has a 12-3-2 lifetime record against Merrimack.

- The Wildcats are unbeaten the past five games (4-0-1) vs. the Warriors. Three of those four wins have been by shutout.


UP NEXT

- Hockey East is announcing the remaining regular-season schedule week-by-week on Tuesdays.

Game Summary

Saturday, January 23, 2021

0
4
Game statistics
12 Shots 32
0 / 3 Power Plays 1 / 4
5 / 10 PIM 4 / 8
1-9-0 Records 5-10-1
GOAL SCORERS
Merrimack New Hampshire
Brianna Brooks (3)
1st/0:53  GW
Jada Christian (5)
2nd/1:27 PP
Lindsey Dumond (2)
2nd/4:20
Brianna Brooks (4)
3rd/1:13
GOALTENDERS
Merrimack New Hampshire
Aries Mustoe
60:00, 28 Saves, 4 GA
(L, 0-1-0)
Ava Boutilier
60:00, 12 Saves, 0 GA
(W, 5-8-1)