DURHAM, N.H. - Vermont (2-5-0, 1-2-0 HEA) defeated UNH (3-3-1, 0-3-0 HEA) 4-3 on Friday night from the Whittemore Center, securing the first road win of the season and first Hockey East win on the campaign. Eight different skaters registered a point on the way to UVM's 4-3 victory over the Wildcats.
COACH'S QUOTE:
"Big win for our team tonight," said Head Coach Jim Plumer. "We handled some adversity out there and maintained our composure and found a way to finish the game. I've been looking for more offense throughout the lineup, so it was great to see Grace Nelles, Ashley Kokavec, and Rose-Marie Brochu get their first goals of the season to go along with a snipe by Evelyne Blais-Savoie. We've got a lot of room for improvement still, but this was another step forward for us."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Wildcats struck first, scoring 34 second into the game when two UNH skaters broke free on a two-on-one, carried the whole way by Chavonne Truter, who elected to rip a shot, beating the Catamount goalkeeper, taking a 1-0 advantage early in the first period.
- The Catamounts tied it up 6:38 into the opening frame thanks to Ashley Kokavec burying the puck into the top right corner off a rebound from Grace Nelles' impressive solo effort getting momentum into the offensive zone. Vermont knotted the game, 1-1.
- 13:23 into the first period, Vermont doubled their lead, snatching a 2-1 advantage over the Wildcats. Lara Beecher connected with Evelyne Blais-Savoie, carrying the puck up the far side boards until she reached the faceoff dot, ripping a snapshot past the blocker of the UNH goalie for her third goal of the season, giving the Catamounts the one goal lead.
- UNH bounced back with just over a minute and a half remaining in the first period, scoring on the power play when Andi Calderone danced her way to the slot, sniping her shot top right to bring the Wildcats back to even, 2-2.
- The Catamounts didn't back down, starting the second period off by scoring 47 seconds into puck drop when Beecher and Kokavec made their way to the front of the net, getting a shot on goal that trickled out to a waiting Rose-Marie Brochu, wasting no time to shoot the puck into an open net, securing her first goal of the season to earn Vermont the 3-2 lead.
- Hannah Rodgers responded for UNH less than two minutes later, scoring after receiving a pass from Charlie Rauch, knotting the score, 3-3, 2:21 into the second frame.
- Vermont regained the lead, 4-3, 4:50 into the second period, seeing Brochu send the puck cross ice to Kaylee Lewis, who then executed a drop pass to a trailing Nelles once entering the UNH zone. Once Nelles reached the far circle faceoff dot, she unleashed a quick snapshot past the glove of the Wildcat goalie, securing her first goal in a Vermont uniform.
- After two hit posts by UNH and a scoreless third period, Vermont was able to secure the first road win and conference win of the season, skating away with the 4-3 win on Friday night.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
- Vermont's four goals vs UNH is the most offense they've produced so far in a single game this season.
Eight different Catamounts tallied a point on Friday night with four players securing multiple points.
- Blais-Savoie secured her third goal of the season vs UNH to go along with 11 faceoff wins and three shots on goal.
- Becher notched two assists vs the Wildcats, her first multi-assist game of the season, third of her career. Beecher has been on fire, earning seven points in seven games, securing a point in six of those seven games.
- Brochu recorded one goal and one assist vs UNH, her first goal of the season and first multi-point game on the campaign. It's the second time in her career recording a goal and an assist in the same game.
- Grace Nelles tallied the game-winning goal and one assist on Friday night, her first goal in the Green and Gold and first multi-point game of the season. Nelles also notched a team high five shots.
- Kokavec also notched one goal and one assist, her first goal as a Catamount and first multi-point game of the season.
- Lewis, Josie Hemp, and Kyla Bent all registered one assist vs the Wildcats.
- Bent earned a game-high four blocked shots.
- Jane Gervais registered 26 saves on the way to the 4-3 victory.
- Natalie Zarcone and Kokavec shared a game high +3 rating.
- The Catamounts blocked 16 shots to the Wildcats eight.
- With the win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to Vermont Children's Trust Foundation as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative.
UP NEXT:
Following Friday night's win over the Wildcats, the Catamounts will look to close out their weekend set with UNH, returning to action tomorrow afternoon for a 3:30 p.m. puck drop from the Whittemore Center. All the action will be streamed live on ESPN+ and will also be live on NESN.
