FINAL SCORE (OT): Vermont 3, No. 10 Boston University 3
BOSTON – Ève-Audrey Picard and Alyssa Gorecki helped Vermont construct a two-goal lead in the third period but 10th-ranked Boston University stormed back late in regulation to steal a point from the Catamounts in a 3-3 tie Saturday at Walter Brown Arena.
 
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Vermont is now 10-7-6 overall (6-3-4 WHEA) following the tie, while BU is 12-8-3 (7-7-2 WHEA). With New Hampshire idle this weekend, the draw pushes both UVM and BU ahead of the Wildcats with 16 points apiece in a share of third place in Hockey East.
 
"This was just the kind of battle we expected from a storied program like BU," said head coach Jim Plumer. "We've simply got to manage some situations better. I liked our response to their tying goal and we had abundant chances in overtime."
 
Melissa Black tallied 33 saves on the afternoon, including 15 in the third period, while BU's Victoria Hanson amassed 37 stops.
 
UVM struck first after taking advantage of a BU turnover in its own zone. Saana Valkama corralled the puck and beat Hanson glove-side after skating into the slot, picking up her fourth goal of the season with an even five minutes on the clock.
 
After a scoreless middle stanza, the Terriers evened the score at one-apiece at the 4:38 mark of the third. Black denied Nina Rodgers twice up front, but Sarah Steele arrived in the crease and jammed the loose puck into the net.
 
That tie did not stand long, however, as Picard helped the Catamounts regain the lead less than two minutes later. Amanda Drobot sent a short pass along the boards to Picard, who skated around a defender and backhanded a shot home from the right circle.
 
Gorecki then doubled the lead to 3-1 for the Catamounts with just under 5:30 remaining in regulation. Valkama collected the puck off a BU turnover in its own zone, then set up Gorecki for a redirection in front of Hanson.
 
BU would not go down without a fight, netting a late pair off the sticks of Sammy Davis and Victoria Bach. Davis brought the Terriers within one after finishing Mary Parker's centering pass at 16:19. Two minutes and 13 seconds later and with an extra attacker on, Bach buried the equalizer on a carom after Samantha Sutherland fired into traffic.
 
Both teams meet again at Walter Brown Arena on Sunday for a 3 p.m. matchup.
 
"It will be another battle tomorrow, of that I am sure," Plumer added.
 
The Windjammer and Upper Deck Pub is the presenting sponsor of the 2016-17 women's hockey season