AROUND HOCKEY EAST: UConn and Merrimack swept weekends in Women's Hockey East play last weekend, each taking a win over a nationally-ranked opponent in #9 Providence. The two teams, currently tied for seventh and ninth in the Army ROTC Women's Hockey East standings, respectively, earned an important four points as they vie for a spot in the league playoffs. UConn is now within two points of sixth-place Boston University while Merrimack is just one point away from the eighth and final playoff position ... Vermont's Eve-Audrey Picard (Longueuil, Que.) scored three goals in a 4-1 win over Boston University on Friday, picking up her second hat trick in as many games. It was her third hat trick on the year for the Catamounts ... UConn's Leah Lum (Richmond, B.C.) had five assists in the Huskies' two victories over Northeastern and Providence. The helpers brought her career total to 57, third-most in UConn history ... Merrimack's Katelyn Rae (Courtice, Ont.) racked up five points (2g, 3a) in a two-game sweep for Merrimack. Rae factored in each winning strike for the Warriors, as the junior scored the game-winning goal at #9 Providence and set up the decisive tally at Vermont on the weekend. Merrimack netminder Samantha Ridgewell (Outlook, Sask.) was in net for each leg of the two-game road set and backboned the Warriors to victory in each case. She denied 64 shots across the two outings, allowing just three goals, to improve to 8-10-1 on the year ... Maine moved up into second place in the Army ROTC Women's Hockey East standings with a 1-0-1 weekend against New Hampshire. The Black Bears were propelled by sophomore netminder Carly Jackson (Amherst, N.S.) who stopped 43 pucks across the two games and picked up her third shutout of the year with a 28-save effort on Saturday ... Boston University dropped its only game of the week, 5-1, to Vermont on Friday. Jesse Compher (Northbrook, Ill.) scored the lone tally for the Terriers, her fifth goal in seven games. She is currently riding a five-game point streak (3g, 2a) and has a point in seven of her last eight outings (5g, 4a).
Leah Lum, UConn (Sr., F; Richmond, B.C.) dished out five assists in a weekend sweep of Northeastern and #9 Providence, including three against the Huskies on Friday night. She leads UConn with 17 helpers on the year and now has 57 on her career, good for third all-time in UConn history.
Natalie Snodgrass (Eagan, Minn.), UConn's leading scorer with 30 points on the year, added two more points (1g, 1a) in the Huskies' weekend sweep in league play. The four points in league play were crucial for the Huskies, lifting them into a playoff position.
Samantha Ridgewell (Outlook, Sask.) earned two wins on the road for the Warriors, including at #9 Providence on Friday. She denied 64 shots across the two outings, allowing just three goals, to improve to 8-10-1 on the year.
HOCKEY EAST WEEKLY TOP PERFORMERS
Jesse Compher, BU (Fr., F; Northbrook, Ill.) Scored the lone tally Friday in a 5-1 setback to Vermont, her fifth goal in seven games. She is currently riding a five-game point streak (3g, 2a) and has a point in seven of her last eight outings (5g, 4a).
Briana Colangelo, UConn (So., F; Whitby, Ont.) In a sweep in conference play, registered three points (2g, 1a). She netted the game-winning goal in overtime against #9 Providence, pushing UConn to a four-game winning streak, it's longest since 2014-15.
Katelyn Rae, MC (Jr., F; Courtice, Ont.) Racked up five points (2g, 3a) in a two-game sweep for Merrimack, helping the Warriors pick up an important four points in league play.
Lydia Murray, ME (So., F; Sault St. Marie, Ont.) Potted a goal and two assists on Saturday, leading the Black Bears' offense to a 3-0 win over New Hampshire.
Josefine Engmann, ME (Fr., F; Oslo, Norway) Chipped in with a helper in each of Maine's two outings last week against UNH, a 1-0-1 weekend.
Carly Jackson, ME (So., G; Amherst, N.S.) Backboned the Black Bears to a 1-0-1 mark in league play last weekend, lifting Maine into second place in the Women's Hockey East standings. She stopped 43 pucks across the two games and picked up her third shutout of the year with a 28-save effort on Saturday.
Eve-Audrey Picard, UVM (So., F; Longueuil, Que.) Scored three goals in a 4-1 win over Boston University on Friday, picking up her second hat trick in as many games. It was her third hat trick on the year.