BURLINGTON, Vt. - Seven Catamounts had two points as Vermont earned a weekend split with #10 UConn defeating them 6-2 Saturday afternoon in Hockey East action from Gutterson Fieldhouse. With the win UVM improved to 8-6-1 in league play while the Huskies fell to 9-4-2.
COACH'S QUOTE
"That was one of the most gratifying wins of my career because it showed the true character of this team and how much they believe in one another," Head Coach Jim Plumer said. "So many people stepped up and there were abundant highlights - Natálie Mlýnková playing a regular shift on defense was so instrument to our success. Sydney Correa standing tall against the UConn attack was key. But the highlight of the night had to be Cam Morrissey scoring her first career goal. Cam is such an important part of our team and to see her joy - and the excitement of her teammates is a heartwarming example of the power of team."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Vermont came out with a jump in its step Saturday, the Catamounts had the first five shots of the game. Just 1:09 into the contest Corrine McCool forced a turnover and skated in on a two-on-one opportunity with Lily Humphrey. McCool fed a perfect pass to Humphrey and she rang a shot off the pipe.
- The Huskies opened the scoring with the first power play tally against the Catamounts in nine games. Summer-Rae Dobson redirected a point shot past UVM's Sydney Correa at the 7:37 mark for her ninth goal of the season.
- Vermont equalized with 5:05 left in the period on Cam Morrissey's first career goal. Lilly Holmes dropped the puck to Ellice Murphy and she fired a high shot that was blocked but not controlled by UConn's Megan Warrener. Morrissey calmly gathered the rebound at the point, repositioned herself, and fired a low wrist shot that found the back of the net.
- First year Reagan Miller gave the Catamounts the lead with her second goal of the season 7:40 into the second period. In transition Alyssa Holmes fed Miller as she cut down the wing, Miller fired a hard-low shot that beat Warrener through her legs. Murphy earned an assist on Miller's go-ahead goal as well.
- Maude Poulin-Labelle doubled the UVM advantage with 8:33 to go in the second period. Poulin-Labelle cut into the UConn zone and passed back to Maddy Skelton at the point before cutting straight to the net. Skelton fed a perfect pass back to Poulin-Labelle on the doorstep and she tapped it home for her seventh goal of the season. Miller earned her first career multi-point game with the secondary assist on the goal.
- The Huskies cut the Vermont lead in half with a goal with 44 seconds left in the second period. Taylor Wabick forced a turnover at the boards and skated into towards Correa before feeding a cross-ice pass to Morgan Wabick who one-timed it home for her seventh goal of the season.
- Vermont struck shorthanded for the third time this season midway through the third to push its lead back to two. Natálie Mlýnková pressured the UConn transition game at center ice, her presence forced a contested pass and Poulin-Labelle stepped in front of it intercepting the feed before firing up to Mlýnková. Mlýnková skated in on a breakaway, waited Warrener out, and beat her with a wrist shot to her blocker side. Mlýnková's seventh goal of the season was also her second shorthanded tally of the year.
- Theresa Schafzahl scored two empty net goals 26 seconds apart to seal the Catamounts bounce back victory. In the third period Correa made 10 saves to earn her second career win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- In addition to the six goals Vermont scored Saturday they also hit four posts.
- This year with each goal scored by UVM, Community Bank, N.A. will donate $75 to Special Olympics Vermont. With today's six goals, Community Bank, N.A. will be adding a donation of $450 to Special Olympics Vermont. Thank you Community Bank, N.A. for your support of our UVM and Special Olympics athletes!
- With today's win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to Vermont Foodbank as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. Vermont Mutual has committed to donating $15,000 to Vermont Foodbank for the 2021 season. A special thank you to Vermont Mutual Insurance for their support. Vermont Mutual Insurance, protecting Vermonters since 1828.
WHO'S NEXT
Vermont is now tentatively scheduled to return to action at Holy Cross January 16 and January 17. Originally the Catamounts were to face the Crusaders January 13-14 but they are now playing rescheduled games with Maine January 10-11 necessitating a change in the UVM series. Stay tuned to UVMAthletics.com next week for an official announcement with dates and times.
