DURHAM N.H. - Senior captain Lauren Martin (Cambridge, Ontario) broke a 1-1 third-period tie to lift the University of New Hampshire women's hockey team to Saturday's 2-1 victory against Merrimack College at the Whittmore Center on Kacey Bellamy Day.
Freshman Brooke Hammer (Commerce Township, Mich.) scored her first career goal to tie the score, 1-1, late in the first period. UNH goalie Ava Boutilier (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island) made 21 saves, including 10 in the third period, to backbone the Wildcats to a comeback win.
MC goaltender Emma Gorski stopped 11 shots in the first period and 13 more in the second as part of a 32-save effort. Emily Oosterveld scored the Warriors' goal.
UNH improves to 3-6-2 overall, 3-2-1 at home and 3-6-1 in Hockey East. Merrimack, which entered Saturday on a four-game winning streak, falls to 4-9-1 overall and 4-5-1 in the league.
Prior the game, the Wildcats honored alum Kacey Bellamy '09, who was a four-year star at UNH and was a mainstay with the U.S. Women's National Team from 2006-21, including three Olympics and one Olympic gold medal. Bellamy was honored with a ceremonial puck drop and signed autographs for the fans.
UP NEXT
- The Wildcats travel to Matthews Arena to face off against Northeastern University on Friday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m.
- UNH's next home game is Tuesday, Nov. 23 (7 p.m.) against Harvard.
FIRST PERIOD
- New Hampshire recorded a 12-7 shot advantage in the opening 20 minutes.
- At 9:32, Oosterveld's shot went between the legs of Boutilier for Merrimack's first goal. The power-play goal was set up by Ally Qualley and Raice Szott
- UNH responded with a power-play goal to tie the score, 1-1, at 15:13. Hammed scored on a deflection in front of the net off the initial shot from Brianna Legros (New Liskeard, Ontario).
SECOND PERIOD
- The 'Cats recorded a 13-5 shot advantage in the scoreless second stanza.
- Both UNH and Merrimack were unsuccessful in the power play in the middle frame. MC went 0-for-2 with two shots and the 'Cats were 0-for-1 with two shots.
THIRD PERIOD
- Martin scored on a slap shot from the high slot into the bottom right corner of the net to give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead at 4:05. Sophomore Nicole Kelly (Branford, Ontario) won the faceoff to start the UNH power play at 3:53 to initiate the scoring sequence. Senior Emily Rickwood (Brantford, Ontario) collected the puck and skated from the right corner behind the net before slipped a pass to Martin for the shot and game-winning goal.
- Merrimack went on a power play at 10:29, but Boutilier was UNH's best penalty killer with three saves that preserved the one-goal advantage.
- The Warriors pulled Gorski in favor of an extra skater with 55 seconds remaining, but New Hampshire did not allow a shot on goal the rest of the way.
GAME NOTEBOOK
- New Hampshire finished the game with a 34-22 shot advantage.
- UNH attempted 66 total shots as opposed to Merrimack's 41.
- The 'Cats blocked eight shots - each by a different skater. Merrimack recorded 12 blocks.
- The Wildcats went 2-for-5 on the power play while Merrimack was 1 of 5.
- Merrimack had a 29-26 edge in the faceoff circle.
UNH NOTEBOOK
- Boutilier had 21 saves with one goal against to post a .955 save percentage.
- Martin scored her first goal of the season and 15th career.
- Hammer recorded a point both games of the weekend series vs. Merrimack. She tallied an assist Friday.
- Legros tallied an assist in both weekend games vs. the Warriors.
- UNH entered the game 1-for-20 on the power play and converted 2 of 5 chances Saturday.
SERIES NOTEBOOK
- New Hampshire has a 13-4-2 lifetime record against Merrimack College and that includes this weekend series split in which both teams won on home ice.
- UNH is 7-1-1 at home against Merrimack.