Final Score: Merrimack 2, Vermont 1
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Merrimack scored on both of their power play opportunities as they defeated Vermont 2-1 Friday night in Hockey East action from Lawler Rink.
 
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Box Score
 
The Warriors opened the scoring 3:12 into the first period on their first power play opportunity of the evening. Paige Voight took a feed in transition and skated into the slot before using a Vermont defender as a screen to beat Madison Litchfield for her team-leading 11^th goal of the season.
 
After being outshot in the opening frame 11-8 the Catamounts pushed hard for an equalizer in the second. Merrimack's Samantha Ridgewell made 14 saves and shutdown two Vermont power plays during the scoreless middle frame as the Warriors headed to the third up a goal.
 
The Warriors converted their second power play of the night into a two-goal advantage 6:33 into the third period. Paige Sorensen took a feed at the point from Dominique Kremer and pounded a slap shot through traffic to record her seventh goal of the season.
 
Vermont cut the Warriors lead in half with 8:30 remaining in the third period. Bella Webster forced a turnover in the neutral zone before skating into the Merrimack zone on a two-on-one with Victoria Andreakos. Webster looked to shoot the whole way and beat Ridgewell with a quick low wrist shot for her 2nd goal of the season.
 
Ridgewell made three third period saves to earn her fifth win of the season. Litchfield made 21 saves for the Catamounts in her sixth straight start.
 
"It's very disappointing to not play our best when it matters most," said Jim Plumer. "Credit to Merrimack for playing a smart simple game. We just didn't play 60 minutes of the kind of hockey we needed."
 
The Catamounts close out the regular season tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. as they face Merrimack in Hockey East action from Lawler Arena. Fans can watch a live stream ($) at MerrimackAthletics.TV or follow along with live stats by clicking here.