BURLINGTON, Vt. – Senior forward Bridget Baker scored her first career hat trick as the Catamounts defeated St. Cloud State 5-1 Friday evening at Gutterson Fieldhouse in the second annual Windjammer Classic.
 
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Baker opened the scoring for the Catamounts 1:40 into the second period on Vermont's second power play opportunity of the game. Baker received the puck along the boards from Amanda Drobot and skated into the slot before firing a low shot just inside the post and past St. Cloud State's Janine Alder (23 Saves) for her fourth goal of the season. Victoria Andreakos was credited with the secondary assist on the power play tally.
 
Mackenzie MacNeil stretched Vermont's lead to two at the 7:07 mark of the second frame. Rachael Ade fed MacNeil a breakout pass and she skated into the Huskies zone with two defenseman back on the play. MacNeil made a move to beat one defender and as she worked to get the puck back in the slot it was inadvertently shot into the net by the other defender to give Vermont a two-goal cushion.
 
With 6:30 left in the second period Baker scored Vermont's first shorthanded goal of the season to push the Catamounts' advantage to three. Daria O'Neill cleared the puck out of the Vermont zone and Baker was able to track the puck down in the Huskies zone. With three St. Cloud State defenders back Baker was able to cut to the middle and roof a backhand shot for her fifth goal of the year.
 
At the 14:03 mark of the third period Cassidy Campeau added another for Vermont with her second goal of the season. Campeau anticipated a cross-ice pass between the St. Cloud State defense and was able to skate in alone on Alder, with speed she ripped a shot through Alder's legs as Vermont hit the four-goal mark for the first time since their season opener against Union.
 
Just eight seconds after Vermont's fourth goal St. Cloud State's leading scorer Julia Tylke cut into the Vermont advantage with her eighth goal of the season. Tylke's even strength tally assisted by Kayla Friesen was just the sixth goal given up by Madison Litchfield (16 Saves) in thelast four games.
 
Trailing by three the Huskies pulled Alder for an extra attacker in the final five minutes of regulation. After a scramble in front of the Vermont net Alyssa Gorecki cleared the puck up ice to Baker who put it into the empty net with 4:27 left in regulation for her first career hat trick.
 
"This kind of performance has been building in small pieces for the last several weeks," said head coach Jim Plumer. "We've been close to a breakout performance and it was great to see us finally put the pieces together today. Bridget Baker has really taken her game to another level and she made a huge impact for us tonight."
 
With the win the Catamounts advance to the Windjammer Classic championship game which is slated for 7 p.m. tomorrow night at Gutterson Fieldhouse. Vermont will face No. 5 Clarkson who defeated Robert Morris 4-3 in a shootout in the nightcap. Robert Morris and St. Cloud State will faceoff at 4 p.m. in the consolation game. Both games will be streamed live in HD with commentary from Rob Ryan at CatamounTV.com

In addition to sponsoring the Windjammer Classic, The Windjammer is the presenting sponsor of the 2016-17 women's hockey season. We appreciate their continued commitment and support of Vermont Athletics.