DURHAM, N.H. - University of New Hampshire freshman defender Rae Breton (Brighton, Ontario) tallied her second career goal and her second of the weekend, serving as the eventual game-winning goal in 4-2 victory for the UNH women's ice hockey team over Merrimack College on Saturday afternoon.
This comes after the Wildcats defeated the Warriors 6-0 on Friday evening in North Andover, Mass. The win puts UNH on a three-game winning streak to end the fall semester.
Other big contributions for the Wildcats came by way of juniors Grace Middleton (Midland, Mich.) and Maddie Truax (Gardner, Mass.) who each assisted on the game-winning goal and the insurance goal in the third period. Redshirt sophomore Ava Boutilier (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island) improved her record to 9-6-1 on the year with her 24-save performance.
This is the Wildcats' last game before winter break; they will return to action in 2020 when they travel to face Penn State on January 3rd and 4th at 2 P.M. The last time the Wildcats faced the Nittany Lions was back in 2015.
GAME INFORMATION:
Date: December 7th, 2019- 3 P.M.
Location: Whittemore Center Arena
Attendance: 404
Score: UNH 4 (9-7-2, 7-6-1 Hockey East) Merrimack (4-13-2, 1-12-2 Hockey East)
Goals:
UNH (4) - Jada Christian, Ellie Sasaki (PP), Rae Breton (GW), Carlee Turner (PP)
MC (2) - Katie Kaufman, Kate Bukolska
Assists:
UNH (7) - Lauren Martin, Tori Howran, Carlee Turner, Emily Rickwood, Grace Middleton (2), Maddie Traux (2)
MC (1) - Megan Fergusson, Courtney Maud
Goaltenders:
UNH-Ava Boutilier - 9-6-9 - 24(2) {60:00} (W)
MC -Emma Gorski- 7-11-8 - 26 (4) {57:59} (L)
GAME RECAP
- Merrimack struck first 4:53 into the first period. UNH was on powerplay, but was called for interference to cause a four-on-four situation. The ensuing face off was won by Megan Fergusson who passed it to Katie Kaufman who shot the puck right glove side right off the face-off giving the Warriors a 1-0 lead.
- UNH tied the game 6:18 into the second period; Laruen Martin (Cambridge, Ontario) passed the puck to Jada Christian (Caledon East, Ontario) in the slot as she was rushing onto the ice on a line change; she received the puck and shot it glove side above Emma Gorski's shoulder to equalize.
- Merrimack came back to retake their lead 11:19 into the second period. UNH turned over the puck in their defensive zone and Kate Bukolska recovered the puck. She took control at the blue line and shot it high glove-side for the 2-1 lead.
- UNH retaliated just over five minutes later, 16:48 into the second period. Carlee Turner (Scottsdale, Ariz.) took a shot from the top of the slot on a power play, which was tipped in front of the net by Ellie Sasaki (Markham, Ontario) right in front of the crease. The puck trickled in from the bottom of the glove side.
- The Wildcats took their first lead of the game 5:39 into the third period. On a rush, Grace Middleton passed from the right wing to Rae Breton who was at the top of the slot. Breton took a wrist shot to the stick side of Gorski and it trickled through under her arm.
- UNH strengthened its lead by scoring 11:56 into the third period. Consecutive shots on goal by Maddie Truax and Grace Middleton were saved by Gorski. Carlee Turner got the long rebound and tipped it in at the bottom stick side.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- The game was only UNH's second win of the season when the opponent tallies the first goal of the game (2-5-2). This was also UNH's first win of the season when trailing at the first intermission (1-3-2).
- Rae Breton scored her first career game-winning goal on just her second career goal; her first career goal came Friday night at Merrimack.
- Maddie Truax and Grace Middleton both had multi-assist performances in the game. It was Middleton's first of the season and second in her career. It was Truax's first multipoint game of her career.
- Middleton is now on a three game point streak with one goal, three assists for four total points.
PENALTIES
UNH: 4-8 MC: 7-14
POWER PLAYS
UNH: 2-6 MC: 0-3
NEW HAMPSHIRE LEADERS:
Points (2): Three Players
Goals (1): Four Players
Assists (2): Two Players
Shots (5): Grace Middleton
Blocked Shots (2): Six Players
Faceoffs (17): Carlee Turner
MERRIMACK LEADERS:
Points (1): Three Players
Goals (1): Two players
Assists (1): Megan Furgusson
Shots (6): Mikyla Grant-Mentis
Blocked Shots (3): Mikyla Grant-Mentis
Faceoffs (10): Megan Furgusson
