FINAL SCORE: Connecticut 2, Vermont 1
STORRS, Conn. – Connecticut's Leah Lum scored in each of the first two periods and a third period comeback effort fell short as the Vermont fell 2-1 at Freitas Ice Forum on Saturday, despite outshooting the Huskies 39-26.
 
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The setback drops the Catamounts to 11-10-7 on the season and 7-6-5 in Hockey East play. UConn is now 12-13-3 and 7-10-1 against league opponents.
 
"It was a tough outcome for us today," said head coach Jim Plumer. "Credit to UConn, and especially their goalie who was outstanding, but we didn't do enough of the little things to give us a chance to win. It's on to UNH."
 
Melissa Black finished the day with 24 saves for UVM and Annie Belanger of UConn made 38 stops.
 
Lum gave the Huskies a 1-0 lead at the 10:21 mark of the opening frame. After UConn won a puck battle behind the Vermont net, Erica D'Errico sent a pass back to the left point and Kayla Mee. Mee whacked the puck through traffic, only to have it redirected home by Lum.
 
A power play tally by Lum with under 13 minutes in the second period allowed the Huskies to double their advantage. Briana Colangelo played the carom after a shot from the point that sailed wide, later putting a backhand on goal. Black turned aside the attempt, but Lum walked in to clean up the rebound at 7:10. Justine Fredette received a secondary assist on the play.
 
The Catamounts then used a 2-on-1 to get back within one in the third period. After Kourtney Menches broke up a UConn pass, facilitating a neutral zone turnover, the puck wound up on the stick of Casey Leveillee. The senior skated in along the right wing and fired from the circle, and although Belanger was able to turn aside the shot, Menches buried the loose puck for her fifth goal of the season and second in as many days.
 
Black was pulled for an extra skater in the waning stages of regulation and the Catamounts fired multiple shots in an attempt for the equalizer, but none could find the back of the net.
 
Vermont now returns home and will prepare to host New Hampshire on Friday (Feb. 3) for the Pack The Gut Challenge presented by The Windjammer. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Gutterson Fieldhouse. For more information on Pack The Gut, click here.
 
The Windjammer and Upper Deck Pub is the presenting sponsor of the 2016-17 women's hockey season