University of Vermont Athletics

FINAL SCORE: Vermont 7, Union 0
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Ève-Audrey Picard set a new varsity single-game record with four goals and recorded her first career hat trick on Tuesday night, leading UVM to a convincing 7-0 non-conference win over Union College at Gutterson Fieldhouse.
 
The Catamounts improve to 2-1-0 (1-1-0 WHEA) with their second straight victory, while the Dutchwomen remain winless at 0-3-1 (0-0-0 WECAC). Tuesday marked Vermont's 21st straight win against Union to retain its undefeated record in the series.  
 
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Picard registered her third career multi-goal game and now has a combined six markers against Union over the last two years. The only other four-goal performance by a Catamount was posted by Jen Bradley in 1995 against Boston University before the program was elevated to varisty status. 
 
Alyssa Gorecki closed the night with a goal and two assists, while Melissa Black stopped all 10 shots she faced for her first NCAA shutout.

"Eve showed why she is such a special player tonight," said head coach Jim Plumer. "She scored all four of her goals in different ways and it's a credit to her compete level, skill, and hockey sense that she can really impact the game in all three zones. It was a great night for her and the team, and also a tip of the cap to Melissa for her first career shutout."
 
Picard opened the scoring with less than three minutes left in the first. Returning to the lineup from injury, captain Taylor Willard hit the Canadian forward in stride down the left wing. Picard centered a pass into the crease from the left doorstep and it deflected into the net off the skate of Ava Reynolds. Taylor Flaherty picked up the second assist on Picard's 17th career tally and UVM took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
 
Picard doubled the lead with her second of the night just four minutes into the middle frame. The sophomore deked around the left circle and out-waited Kate Spooner as she buried a shot from a weak angle at the 3:49 mark.
 
Gorecki then converted a shorthanded breakaway less than two minutes later, wristing a shot high blocker side past Spooner for a 3-0 cushion. Spooner was lifted for Amelia Murray after the unassisted tally, Gorecki's first of the year.
 
Picard completed her hat trick off a centering pass from Saana Valkama at the 11:23 mark, finishing a first-time attempt short side on the feed from her linemate. Gorecki collected the second assist on the play. Ali O'Leary netted the Catamounts' fifth goal with 2:19 to play in the second for her second career tally and UVM led 5-0 after 40 minutes.
 
Picard's fourth and final goal of the night was followed by Kristina Shanahan's first collegiate tally in the third period to cap the scoring. The Catamounts were two away from the team single-game record for goals, which was set in 1999 against Union. 
 
Vermont hits the road this weekend for a two-game series against ninth-ranked Quinnipiac. The non-league matchups are scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday (Oct. 13) and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 14) in Hamden, Connecticut at the TD Bank Sports Center.

The Windjammer and Upper Deck Pub is the presenting sponsor of the 2017-18 women's hockey season