FINAL SCORE: Vermont 4, Connecticut 2
STORRS, Conn. – Kourtney Menches netted her fourth goal of the season and
Madison Litchfield recorded her 28th career win to set a Division I program record as Vermont held off Connecticut by a 4-2 score on Friday night at Freitas Ice Forum.
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The victory, UVM's first over the Huskies since Nov. 2, 2014, puts the Catamounts at 11-9-7 overall and 7-5-5 in Hockey East play. UConn drops to 11-13-3 and 6-10-1 against conference foes.
"Congratulations to Madi Litchfield for setting the Division I program record for most wins," said head coach
Jim Plumer. "She was essential tonight as UConn had the better of the play for the first half of the game. I was pleased at our ability to finish, especially against such a strong goalie. We will still need to be sharper tomorrow."
Litchfield made 29 saves on the night and her counterpart, Annie Belanger, racked up 23 stops.
UVM needed just over four minutes to take an early lead. Following a defensive zone faceoff the Catamounts managed to knock the puck toward the neutral zone.
Victoria Andreakos came away with it and skated along the right wing, finding
Alyssa Gorecki who buried the chance in the slot at 4:35.
In the middle of the second period, the Catamounts used a pair of tallies over 3:12 to extend the lead to three.
Ève-Audrey Picard began the sequence, logging her 10th goal at 11:11 after cleaning up
Sammy Kolowrat's blocked shot from the right point.
Shortly thereafter, Vermont used a quick goal off of a faceoff to put the game out of reach.
Casey Leveillee won the draw to the left of Belanger, setting up Menches to step in behind her and fire a wrist shot home with 5:37 remaining in the period.
After Leah Lum and Briana Colangelo brought the Huskies back within one at 3-2,
Cassidy Campeau wrapped up the night's scoring with some insurance for Vermont. A pass by
Ali O'Leary was broken up by a UConn skater, but that change in path led directly to Campeau, who went glove side with her shot to ultimately light the lamp.
Picard (11-for-17) led the Catamounts on the faceoff dot.
Both teams are back at the Freitas Ice Forum on Saturday (Jan. 28) to conclude the weekend series at 2 p.m.
The Windjammer and Upper Deck Pub is the presenting sponsor of the 2016-17 women's hockey season
