FINAL SCORE: UConn 2, No. 10 Vermont 1HARTFORD – Rob Nichols made 23 saves and UConn held off 10th-ranked Vermont in the third period as the Huskies earned a 2-1 Hockey East victory on Friday night at the XL Center. The Catamounts drop to 7-3-1 (5-3-1 HEA), while the Huskies improve to 3-5-4 (2-2-1 HEA).
UConn opened the scoring exactly nine minutes into the first period as Jeff Wight picked out Johnny Austin at the center point. Austin floated a wrist shot through traffic and beat the screened
Mike Santaguida high to his glove side inside the right post.
Vermont came out strong in the second period and knotted the score within four minutes.
Alexx Privitera controlled the puck at the left point and faked a shot as he fed a pass into the slot for
Anthony Petruzzelli. The freshman spun a quick low shot toward the net and it slid under the pads of Rob Nichols for his first collegiate goal.
The Huskies recaptured the lead at 10:52 of the middle frame on an unfortunate bounce for the Catamounts. Jacob Poe's shot from the right point was partially blocked in the slot, but it deflected to Spencer Naas at the right doorstep and he tipped the puck into an open net.
UConn nearly took a 3-1 lead shortly after the Naas goal, but Santaguida denied Trevor Gerling on a partial breakaway with a blocker save at the left post.
Nick Luukko then broke up a centering pass from Gerling on a 2-on-1 in the slot to keep the deficit at one heading into the third.
UVM registered several strong offensive shifts in the third but couldn't find the equalizer. The Catamounts called their timeout with 1:54 remaining in regulation and UConn was able to hold Santaguida in the net for the next minute. Patrick Kirtland blocked Luukko's shot from the top of the right circle in the closing seconds and Connecticut held on for the points.
Petruzzelli finished the night with a team-high five shots on goal, while Santaguida made 25 saves in a losing effort. Both teams went 0-for-1 on the power play.
Vermont completes a four-game road swing on Saturday (Nov. 22) with a 7 p.m. Hockey East contest against UMass Amherst at the Mullins Center. Pre-game radio coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on WVMT 620-AM and
SportsJuice.com with
Alastair Ingram calling the action. A live pay-per-view video stream is also available via
UMassAthletics.com.
The Catamounts host UMass Amherst next Tuesday (Nov. 25) at Gutterson Fieldhouse on Military Appreciation Night at 7:05 p.m. Reserved tickets are still available and can be purchased online at
UVMathletics.com/Tickets, in person at the UVM Athletic Ticket Office in Patrick Gym, or over the phone by calling 802-656-4410. A special rate of $10 per ticket will be available for military members and their families.
Vermont will wear special camouflage jerseys on Tuesday against UMass, and the jerseys are currently being auctioned off at
auction.uvmathletics.com. Fans can also bid on a VIP experience for the UMass game. Each package includes: Four (4) rink-side seat tickets to the game; Four (4) passes to VIP hospitality in Bostwick Room; Behind the scenes view of the players as they walk from the locker room to the bench before the game; Attend post-game press conference; Recognition on the scoreboard; Four (4) bags that each include a Vermont T-shirt, license plate cover, pom pom, etc. Auctions end on the day before the game at 12 p.m.
