BURLINGTON, Vt. - Graduate forward Theresa Schafzahl scored 9:48 into the first overtime to send No. 11 Vermont to the Hockey East Semifinals for the second straight year with a 2-1 win over the eight-seed New Hampshire Saturday afternoon in a Hockey East Quarterfinal from Gutterson Fieldhouse. The Catamounts 22nd win of the season extended their season and tied a program single-season record.
COACH'S QUOTE
"What a thrill today to win this game in front of such a great crowd," Head Coach Jim Plumer said. "We got better as the game went on and it says a lot about the team and their collective heart that they play with. I told them before the game that stats and spreadsheets don't win games - people do. Today, Natalie Mlynkova, Theresa Schafzahl, and Jessie McPherson really stepped up when they were needed and proved why they are All-Stars. Credit to UNH as they took us to overtime in three of the four games over the past two weeks but we never lost faith and were able to finally win it in overtime. I am excited for Wednesday night and another great crowd to cheer us on."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After a scoreless first period the Wildcats struck first 4:47 into the second period. During a period of sustained UNH pressure Jessie McPherson made a couple of saves down low but a rebound caromed into the slot. UNH's Rae Breton skated down from the point and labeled a shot for the top corner for her third goal of the season. Kelly Harty and Lauren Martin earned assists on the play.
- Unfazed the Catamounts responded moments later on third power play of the game. From the point Natálie Mlýnková fired a wrist shot that found the back of the net past UNH's Ava Boutilier through five skaters in front at the 8:06 mark. Sini Karjalainen and Schafzahl assisted on the goal. Both of them set a new single-season program record picking up their 24th helper of the season on the game-tying tally.
- Vermont poured on the pressure on the Wildcats in the third period with sustained periods of possession. Boutilier made eight saves in the third and the teams headed to overtime for the third time in four meetings this season.
- Schafzahl netted the winner on a broken play out of the corner. Corinne McCool and Schafzahl were engaged with two UNH defenders and Theresa corralled the puck and fired a fluttering puck from the faceoff dot. The shot found the top corner just under the bar to send Vermont to the semifinals.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Saturday's attendance at Gutterson Fieldhouse was 1,074, the most of any Hockey East school in the quarterfinals. No other quarterfinal topped 600.
- The Catamounts are now 3-1 in Hockey East Quarterfinal contests from Gutterson Fieldhouse.
- Theresa Schafzahl led the Catamounts with six shots on goal and three blocked shots.
- Vermont is now 2-1 all-time in Hockey East postseason overtime. UVM defeated Maine 3-2 in triple overtime in the 2014 quarterfinals at the Gut and fell 4-3 in double overtime to Boston College in the 2017 semifinals.
- Jessie McPherson made 29 saves, including 11 in the second period, as she earned her 21st win of the season, resetting her own program single-season record.
- With today's 2-1 decision, Community Bank N.A. will donate $150 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 today's win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to King Street Center as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. Since its inauguration in 2017, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group has donated over $80,000 to local non-profits through the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative.
HOCKEY EAST SEMIFINAL SET FOR WEDNESDAY MARCH 1 AT 7:30 PM
Vermont will host the three-seed Providence in a Hockey East semifinal at Gutterson Fieldhouse Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available now at https://go.uvm.edu/semi. Fans 12 and younger will receive free admission if they're wearing their favorite jersey. The game will air live on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan on the call.
In the other Hockey East semifinal, the top-seed Northeastern Huskies will host the four-seed Boston College from Matthews Arena. Puck drop in Boston is slated for 6 p.m. The two winners Wednesday night will faceoff in the Hockey East Championship which is scheduled for Saturday, March 4 at noon. Saturday's game will air live nationally on ESPNU with Clay Matvick and Angela Ruggiero on the call.
