CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Natálie Mlýnková had two goals and a primary assist as the 11th ranked Catamounts battled back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Boston College Eagles 3-2 Friday night in Hockey East action from Kelley Rink. With the win Vermont improves to 18-9-1 this season and 13-7-1 in league play. The Catamounts remain in second place in Hockey East with 43 points.
COACH'S QUOTE
"Another gutty road win for us tonight," Head Coach Jim Plumer said. "We weren't in rhythm for a good portion of the game but we found a way to get back in the game. Jessie McPherson kept us in the game while we weathered some storms and Corinne McCool with a clutch goal to get us going. Then Natálie Mlynková took over and won the game for us. It's always good to win on the road and we need to be ready for another tough game tomorrow at BU."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Eagles opened the scoring 26 seconds into the second period. Deirdre Mullowney fired a wrist shot through traffic from the Boston College point. In the middle of the slot Katie Pyne got a piece of it and redirected it past UVM's Jessie McPherson.
- At the 8:34 mark of the second Abby Newhook doubled the Eagles advantage. Newhook won a puck battle in the corner and skated towards the slot before wiring a shot bar down for her team-leading 13th goal of the season.
- With 4:09 to play in the middle frame Corinne McCool cut the Eagles lead in half with her 11th goal of the season. Sara Levesque fired an outlet pass to McCool in the neutral zone and McCool played it along to Natálie Mlynková at the blueline. As McCool entered the zone Mlynková gave it back to her. With the BC defense smothering Theresa Schafzahl in front McCool took the ice given to her and sniped a shot past BC's Abigail Levy from the slot.
- With 54 seconds to play in the second Vermont's top line struck again to tie things up. This time it was a brilliant individual effort from Mlynková. With possession in the corner Mlynková poked the puck past a BC defender, skated around her to retrieve it and then stuffed it home for her 16th goal of the season. Theresa Schafzahl and Anna Podein earned assists on the play.
- With 2:10 left in regulation Mlynková struck again for the game-winner. On an offensive zone draw Mlynková won the puck back to McCool and she dropped a pass to Sini Karjalainen. Karjalainen fired a wrist shot on net that Mlynková tipped just wide. The puck bounced off the end boards and Mlynková was first to the puck, she wrapped around to the other side of the net and roofed a shot before Levy could recover.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- With tonight's win it is the first time Vermont has ever won the season series with the Eagles in back-to-back seasons.
- Vermont's Jessie McPherson won her 17th game of the season Friday night making 27 saves. Her 17 wins are a single-season Vermont record and the sixth most in the NCAA.
- The Eagles scored the first two goals in all three contests against Vermont this season. The Catamounts won two of those games and BC took the other in overtime, but in all three instances Vermont came from behind to tie or take the lead.
- Tonight, Natálie Mlynková scored her second game-winning goal of the season and fifth of her career.
- Defenders Sara Levesque and Bella Parento were tied with a game-high of three blocked shots.
- With tonight's 3-2 decision, Community Bank N.A. will donate $225 to Special Olympics Vermont. Community Bank, N.A. donates $75 per goal to Special Olympics Vermont for every goal the men's and women's team scores this season.
- With tonight's win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to King Street Youth Center, as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. Since the campaigns inauguration in 2017, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group has donated over $80,000 to local non-profits.
UP NEXT
Vermont is back in action tomorrow as they face the BU Terriers at Walter Brown Arena at 3 p.m. The contest like all Hockey East games will air on ESPN+. The game will also be available on a pay-per-view basis outside of North America at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/hockeyeast. Subscriptions to the service are available for $9.99 USD per month or $4.99 USD for individual games.
