DURHAM, N.H. - Nicky Harnett (Plymouth, Minn.) stopped all 28 shots on goal while both Nicole Kelly (Brantford, Ontario) and Marina Alvarez (Center Moriches, N.Y.) recorded two points to lead the University of New Hampshire women's hockey team to Friday afternoon's 4-0 victory against 14th-ranked University of Connecticut at the Whittemore Arena.
Harnett made 12 of her 28 saves in the first period en route to her second shutout of the season and fifth career. Kelly, a junior forward, and Alvarez, a sophomore defenseman, both tallied a goal and an assist.
Freshman forward Kelly Harty (Billerica, Mass.) and grad student defenseman Emily Rickwood (Brantford, Ontario) netted UNH's other goals; it was Harty's first career goal.
UConn goalie Tia Chan was credited with 16 saves and surrendered three goals; Alvarez's tally was an empty-netter with 11.3 seconds remaining.
The Wildcats improve to 6-13-0 overall and 5-10-0 in Hockey East) while the Huskies move to 11-8-2, 6-7-2.
UP NEXT
- UNH and UConn face off again Dec. 3 (2 p.m.) at the Whittemore Center on Alumni Day. Purchase tickets online at unhwildcats.com, by calling (603) 862-4000 or by visiting the Whittemore Center Ticket Office.
FIRST PERIOD
- UConn recorded a 12-5 shot advantage in the scoreless first period.
SECOND PERIOD
- Harty scored her first career goal off her own rebound at the left post to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead at 8:20 after receiving a pass from behind the net by grad student Gabby Jones (Westfield, Mass.). Senior Jada Christian (Caledon East, Ontario) was credited with the secondary assist.
- Rickwood corralled a centering pass from senior forward Tamara Thiérus (Saint-Jérôme, Quebec), shifted to her backhand and lifted a shot into the upper-right corner to extend the advantage to 2-0 at 16:31. Kelly, who won the puck on the boards in the defensive zone to start the rush, had the secondary assist.
THIRD PERIOD
- UConn went on the first power play of the game at 5:02 and Harnett made two saves to backbone a successful Wildcats' penalty kill.
- Midway through the final frame, Alvarez passed the puck along the blue line to junior defenseman and captain Charli Kettyle (Perth, Ontario) at the left point, where she blasted a shot that was redirected into the cage by Kelly for a 3-0 lead at 10:13.
- New Hampshire began its only power play at 15:36 and recorded three shots on goal during the skater advantage.
- The Huskies pulled Chan in favor of an extra skater with 50 seconds remaining.
- Harnett turned aside Ava Rinker's shot from the right point with 30 seconds on the clock.
- Moments later, Alvarez intercepted a pass in the defensive zone and sent a shot the length of the ice into the middle of the open net with 11.3 seconds left to secure the win.
GAME NOTEBOOK
- UConn finished with a 28-20 shot advantage and 25-21 edge in faceoffs.
- Both teams went 0-for-1 on the power play.
- UNH blocked eight shot attempts and the Huskies had seven blocks.
UNH NOTEBOOK
- This marked the first career multiple-point game for Alvarez, who now has two career goals and seven assists.
- In addition to matching her season high of two points, Kelly had a game-high +3 rating.
- Junior forward Brianna Brooks (Whitby, Ontario) won 15 of 21 faceoffs (71.4%) to mark season highs in both faceoff wins and faceoffs.
- Kettyle led all skaters with three blocks.
- UNH has shut out three opponents this season.
SERIES NOTEBOOK
- New Hampshire has a 49-21-5 lifetime record against UConn that includes 26-9-3 at home.
- The Huskies had won each of the previous six meetings (five by shutout).
