BOSTON, Mass. - Ashley Kokavec's game-winning goal shorthanded, and Sydney Correa's 24 save shutout anchored Vermont (6-19-2, 5-13-2 HE) to a 1-0 victory over #14 Northeastern (17-9-1, 12-7-1 HE) on the road in Boston, MA at Matthews Arena on Friday night. UVM's win earns the Catamounts their third win over a ranked opponent this season.
COACH'S QUOTE
"The girls played hard tonight, and it was a battle," said Associate Head Coach Kevin Dassart. "It's nice when your special teams are the difference maker. Our penalty kill was excellent tonight and got us the shorthanded game winner."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After a scoreless first period, Vermont seemed to strike first 10:43 into the middle frame on the powerplay when a shot by Lara Beecher resulted in a loose puck in the goalie's crease. Maddy Skelton was there for the rebound, but as the puck crossed the line, the referee called the goal off, handing a goalie interference penalty on Skelton, ending the Catamount powerplay and keeping the game scoreless, 0-0.
- Northeastern elevated the offensive pressure in the final 20 seconds of action in the second period, firing three shots on goal within that span, but Sydney Correa stood tall, keeping the Huskies off the scoreboard, bringing the Catamounts into the final period knotted 0-0 with Northeastern.
- The Catamounts broke the ice shorthanded 8:40 into the final period when heavy pressure in the neutral zone by Beecher and Kokavec led to the two connecting in the Huskies zone. Beecher fed Kokavec who was skating backwards towards the middle, whipping a wrist shot on net from above the circles, squeaking her shot through Lisa Jonsson's glove side, securing her fourth goal of the season and earning Vermont a 1-0 advantage.
- An elbowing penalty on Cecilia DesLauriers led to Vermont going on the penalty kill with just 2:31 remaining of gametime, but the Catamounts didn't back down, earning two blocked shots, one by Evelyne Blais-Savoie and one by Kokavec, while Correa saved the single shot sent her way in the final minutes of play among massive pressure by the Huskies, putting Vermont in prime position to close out the matchup.
- As the buzzer rang, Vermont skated away with the 1-0 win over Northeastern, seeing Correa record her first shutout of the season, notching 24 total saves in the process.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Kokavec secured Vermont's first shorthanded goal of the season, scoring her fourth on the campaign, also being her first game-winning goal of the season. Kokavec recorded a team high three shots on net and one blocked shot.
- Beecher collected the lone assist on the Catamount goal, adding to her team high 13 total points on four goals and team high nine assists.
- Blais-Savoie notched a game high 14 total faceoff wins.
- Correa registered her first shutout of the season, stopping all 24 shots that came her way. Vermont killed off all six of the Northeastern powerplays.
- The Catamounts recorded 21 blocked shots to the Huskies 10.
- UVM won 24 faceoffs to the Huskies 19.
UP NEXT
Following the win over Northeastern, the Catamounts will stay on the road in Boston, MA as they prepare to face Boston University on Saturday (Feb. 1) from Walter Brown Arena during the two program's final matchup of their regular season series. Puck drop for Saturday's game is scheduled for 4 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
