DURHAM, N.H. - Freshman Courtney Lilley (Wakefield, Mass.) scored her first career goal and sophomore Sedona Blair (Prairie View, Minn.) stopped all 21 shots to propel the University of New Hampshire women's hockey team to Saturday night's 1-0 win against Union College at the Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex.
Lilley broke the scoreless tie at 1:44 of the third period. Blair made six saves in the first period, eight in the second and seven in the third to record her second shutout of the season and seventh career.
Union goalie Sophie Matsoukas was also credited with 21 saves.
UNH improved to 3-2-1 overall with the weekend sweep of the Garnet Chargers while Union is now 2-6-0.
UP NEXT
- The 'Cats return to the Whitt on Oct. 25-26 for a two-game series against the University of Vermont.
- Saturday is the featured eighth Annual Stick it to Stigma game. The first 500 tickets to that game are free. Go online to tinyurl.com/Oct26FreeTix to claim your free ticket.
- UNH women's hockey season ticket memberships, group opportunities and individual game tickets are available at UNHWildcats.com/BuyTickets or by calling the ticket office at (603) 862-4000 or e-mailing unh.tickets@unh.edu.
FIRST PERIOD
- Both teams recorded six shots in the opening 20 minutes.
SECOND PERIOD
- UNH recorded a 10-8 shot advantage in the second stanza.
- The Wildcats began the period with 49 seconds remaining on a power play. The 'Cats sustained pressure in the attack zone and generated three shots but Matsoukas stopped them all.
- Eight minutes into the second period, Sara Boucher (Burlington, Ontario) stole the puck at the left point and advanced past a defender deep in the left circle. Boucher's centering pass found Chavonne Truter (Uxbridge, Ontario) in the low slot and her redirection ricocheted off the right post.
- With two minutes on the clock, Amanda Quan pulled in the rebound off a blocked shot and lifted a shot toward the open right side of the net, but Blair scampered back into position to make the glove save.
THIRD PERIOD
- Lilley scored what proved to be the only goal of the game at 1:44 of the final frame.
- The scoring sequence started when Maddie Crowley-Cahill (Haverhill, Mass.) sent the puck wide of the near post from the right point. Brooke Hammer (Commerce Township, Mich.) collected the puck off the carom from the end boards and wristed a shot deep on the left side that was stopped by Matsoukas.
- Lilley skated onto the loose puck in the slot and chipped a backhander over the goalie into the net.
- Union pulled Matsoukas in favor of an extra skater with 2:03 remaining.
- Blair turned aside a shot by Jill Willis at 18:10, then UNH did not allow a shot on goal the rest of the way to protect the one-goal lead and shutout.
UNH NOTEBOOK
- In addition to recording her first point as a Wildcat with the assist, Crowley-Cahill led all skaters with six blocks.
- Truter had a game-high 10 faceoff wins on a .625 win percentage (10 of 16).
- Blair improved her season numbers to a 1.55 GAA and .942 save percentage.
- She stopped 36 of 37 shots in the two-game series for a 0.50 GAA and .973 save percentage.
GAME NOTEBOOK
- UNH finished with the edge in shots (22-21) and blocks (17-9).
- Union had a 23-20 advantage in the faceoff circle.
- UNH went 0-for-2 on the power play and the Garnet Chargers were 0-for-1.
SERIES NOTEBOOK
- UNH has an 8-1-0 lifetime record against Union.
