DURHAM, N.H. - Sophomore goaltender Sedona Blair (Eden Prairie, Minn.) recorded 19 saves to backstop the University of New Hampshire women's hockey team to Saturday night's 2-0 victory against College of the Holy Cross at the Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex.
Blair made seven saves in the first period, followed by six in both the second and third to record her third shutout of the season and eighth career.
Senior forward and captain Kira Juodikis (LaSalle, Ontario) broke the scoreless tied at 2:51 of the second period and classmate Brooke Hammer (Commerce Township, Mich.) scored an empty-net goal with 2:02 remaining. Senior defenseman Marina Alvarez (Center Moriches, N.Y.) recorded an assist on both tallies.
HC goalie Abby Hornung was credited with 19 saves.
UNH completed the weekend sweep of the Crusaders to improve to 8-5-1 overall and 5-5-0 in Hockey East. Holy Cross is now 5-7-1, 2-6-1.
UP NEXT
- UNH returns to action Nov. 22 (6 p.m.) at the University of Vermont.
- The Wildcats' next home game is Dec. 4 (6 p.m.) against Northeastern University.
- Purchase tickets online at unhwildcats.com/tickets or call (603) 862-4000.
FIRST PERIOD
- UNH had an 8-7 shot advantage in the scoreless opening stanza.
- The best scoring chance came at 14:20, when Shea Verrier (Reading, Mass.) carried the puck down the left wing, stopped at the top of the circle to survey the ice and centered a pass that Juodikis quickly shoveled on goal.
SECOND PERIOD
- Juodikis gave UNH a 1-0 lead at 2:51 when she lifted a rebound at the left post into the upper-right corner. Verrier initiated the scoring sequence when she left the puck for Juodikis in the high slot. Juodikis pushed the puck low to Alvarez, whose backhander was stopped by Hornung.
- With two minutes on the clock, Sara Boucher (Burlington, Ontario) led a rush down the slot and sent a pass back to Verrier, who returned the puck back to the slot for Hammer. Her shot attempt trickled toward the right post, where Verrier was denied on her initial shot and the rebound.
THIRD PERIOD
- Holy Cross pulled Hornung in favor of an extra skater with 2:36 remaining.
- Alvarez intercepted a pass along the left boards at center ice and chipped the puck forward. Hammer corralled the puck at the blue line, quicky turned and swept a shot into the open net to extend the lead to 2-0 at 17:58.
- Hornung reentered in net and remained there the rest of the way as UNH did not allow a shot on goal to secure the win.
UNH NOTEBOOK
- UNH has four shutouts this season with three on home ice.
- Boucher led all skaters with five blocks.
- Verrier had a game-high nine faceoff wins and she now leads the team in points (10).
- Charlie Rauch (Ramsey, N.J.) won 6 of 8 faceoffs.
- Hammer and Verrier both moved into a tie for second in points (nine).
- Alvarez leads the Wildcats with seven assists.
- She is tied with Juodikis for fourth in points (eight).
GAME NOTEBOOK
- UNH finished with the edge in both shots (21-19) and faceoffs (21-17).
- Neither team was called for a penalty.
- The Wildcats were credited with 12 blocked shot attempts while HC had five.
SERIES NOTEBOOK
- New Hampshire has a 21-1-0 lifetime record against Holy Cross that includes a perfect 12-0-0 at the Whitt.
- UNH has won 13 straight in the series dating back to the Crusaders' lone win vs. the Wildcats on Dec. 30, 2020.
