WOMEN'S HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
After a break last weekend, the Vermont women's hockey team is back on the ice on Saturday (Nov. 12) to take on Providence from Schneider Arena at 2 p.m. The following day, both sides will meet again at 2 p.m. to conclude the weekend series.
 
Live video of both games will be available with subscription through College Sports Live, while fans can additionally follow along free with live stats via GameTracker.
 
RELATED LINKS
Live Stats: Saturday | Sunday
Live Video: Saturday | Sunday
 
ALUMNAE WEEKEND SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 3-4
All women's hockey Alumnae are invited to save the date for Alumnae Weekend, taking place Feb. 3-4, 2017 around Pack the Gut presented by The Windjammer. Details will be announced shortly. To ensure that you receive updates on this and other alumnae events, please contact our Victory Club office via phone at (802) 656-0956 or email at Victory.Club@uvm.edu with your updated contact information.
 
CATAMOUNTS RECAP
UVM was most recently in action on Sunday, Oct. 30, bouncing back from a Friday, Oct. 28 setback to outlast Maine 3-2 at Alfond Arena in Orono. Victoria Andreakos and Mackenzie MacNeil each lit the lamp in the second period to give the Catamounts a 2-0 advantage, but Maine stormed back with a pair of third-period goals less than three minutes apart.
 
Vermont regained the lead for good just 1:25 later when Ève-Audrey Picard gloved down the puck in the far corner, then dished a centering pass to Kourtney Menches at the left post where the junior went stick-side for the game-winner. Madison Litchfield stopped 27 shots to seal the win.
 
SCOUTING PROVIDENCE
Providence College (5-7-0, 2-3-0 WHEA) was handed a pair of close defeats last weekend at the hands of New Hampshire and Northeastern. Six different players recorded a point in Saturday's (Nov. 5) meeting with UNH, but the Friars could not finish a late rally en route to a 4-3 decision. On Sunday (Nov. 6) at Matthews Arena in Boston, all scoring took place in the first 10 minutes as Northeastern came away with a 2-1 win over Providence.
 
Senior Cassidy Carels (6-6-12) and sophomore Christina Putigna (5-7-12) highlight the team's offense, while two others also check in with 10 points apiece. Alanna Serviss (3-3-0, 3.02 GAA) and Madison Myers (2-4-0, 2.36 GAA) have seen time in goal in six games apiece, combining for an .890 save percentage. Statistically, Providence ranks tied for second in Hockey East with 3.17 goals per game, a figure that also sits in a three-way knot for seventh in the country.
 
Head coach Bob Deraney is in his 18th season directing the Friars and is a two-time Women's Hockey East Coach of the Year (2010-11). He played his collegiate hockey in 1980s under Jack Parker at Boston University, guiding the Terriers between the pipes and helping the team to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Although the Friars hold a historical advantage against Vermont, UVM has had several strong performances of late. The Catamounts are 8-1-1 in their last 10 meetings against Providence, including sweeps of the season series in 2013-14 and 2014-15.
 
The two teams last crossed paths on Nov. 14, 2015 in a Saturday afternoon tilt at Gutterson Fieldhouse. UVM used goals from Bridget Baker and Bella Webster to battle back from a 3-1 deficit in the third period, then sent the fans home happy when Taylor Willard snuck home a power play goal with three seconds to play. Molly Depew made 14 saves on the day and the Catamounts went 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.
 
COMMON FACTORS
Providence has a 2-4-0 record against its opponents in common with the Catamounts, including Boston University, Robert Morris, Union, Maine and New Hampshire. The Friars picked up a 4-2 win over Union on Oct. 18 and also handed Maine a 3-2 decision on Oct. 28.
 
PLAYING YOUR CARDS RIGHT
Freshman Ève-Audrey Picard has made a splash in her brief time with UVM, posting a team-best nine points on four goals and five helpers. The Longueuil, Quebec product has inked the scoresheet in six of Vermont's eight games on the season and sits tied for sixth nationally with three power play goals. Five players share a tie for first with four PPG.
 
As a result of her performances, Picard was honored as Hockey East Warrior Co-Player of the Week (Oct. 10) as well as UVM's TD Bank Student-Athlete of the Week (Oct. 10).
 
MATINEE-MANIA
Saturday and Sunday's games will mark the second and third of five consecutive contests in which the Catamounts will drop the puck at 2 p.m. Vermont faced Maine on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 2 p.m. and will host league rivals Northeastern (Nov. 18) and Connecticut (Nov. 20) at that time from Gutterson Fieldhouse.
 
PELKEY, U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM WIN FOUR NATIONS CUP
Former Catamount Amanda Pelkey and the U.S. Women's National Team captured its seventh Four Nations Cup Championship on Nov. 5. Pelkey turned in two assists throughout the four-day event, which also featured Vermont's Saana Valkama as the Finland native skated for her home country.
 
PLUMER ANNOUNCES TEAM CAPTAINS
Seniors Rachael Ade and Sarah Kelly as well as junior Taylor Willard will captain the Catamounts for the 2016-17 season.
 
CATAMOUNTS ADD FIVE TO ROSTER
Vermont has welcomed five newcomers to the squad this season. Forwards Allie Granato (Plainfield, Illinois), Ali O'Leary (Reading, Massachusetts) and Ève-Audrey Picard (Longueuil, Quebec), goaltender Sydney Scobee (Minnetrista, Minnesota) as well as sophomore transfer goalie Melissa Black (Newmarket, Ontario) have joined the team for 2016-17.
 
NEXT UP
The Catamounts return home on Friday, Nov. 18 to host Northeastern at Gutterson Fieldhouse, with puck drop scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
The Windjammer and Upper Deck Pub is the presenting sponsor of the 2016-17 women's hockey season