WOMEN'S HOCKEY NOTEBOOK
The Vermont women's hockey team has been seeded fifth in the Hockey East Quarterfinals and begins a best-of-three series at Providence, slotted fourth, this coming Friday (Feb. 24) with a 5 p.m. contest. Game 2 will follow on Saturday (Feb. 25) at 2 p.m., while a decisive Game 3, if necessary, would be played on Sunday (Feb. 26) at 2 p.m. All games of the series will be contested at Schneider Arena in Providence, Rhode Island.
 
All three games of the series will be streamed in high definition free through College Sports Live, while live stats will be available free via GameTracker. Tickets can be purchased online via Providence College or by calling the Providence Ticket Office at (401) 865-4672.
 
RELATED LINKS
CatamounTV Preview
Friday: Video | Live Stats
Saturday: Video | Live Stats
Sunday: Video | Live Stats
Vermont Notes (.pdf) | Hockey East Notes (.pdf)
 
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VERMONT PLAYOFF HISTORY
The Catamounts have earned each of their five Division I postseason appearances in the past five seasons under the guidance of head coach Jim Plumer. In 2013, UVM was seeded sixth before being dealt a quarterfinal setback by Northeastern. The following season, No. 4 Vermont took down Maine 3-2 in a triple overtime thriller at Gutterson Fieldhouse, reaching the Hockey East Semifinals for the first time in program history and locking down a program-record 18 wins on the year.
 
In 2015 and 2016, UVM was slotted seventh and sixth respectively, drawing Boston University on each occasion. While the Terriers emerged victorious in both series, Vermont managed to force a third game last season at Walter Brown Arena.
 
CATAMOUNTS RECAP
UVM wrapped up the regular season slate last weekend, splitting a home series against Merrimack. On Friday (Feb. 17), four different Catamounts lit the lamp as Katherine Pate, Bridget Baker, Ève-Audrey Picard and Rachael Ade each scored in a 4-3 win at Gutterson Fieldhouse.
 
Despite outshooting Merrimack 23-4 in the third period and 50-32 in the game, UVM fell just short on Saturday (Feb. 18) in a 3-2 Senior Day decision at the Gut. Although the Catamounts jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the middle stages of the first period courtesy of Baker and Cassidy Campeau, Merrimack countered with a pair by the end of the stanza. The Warriors then used a tally by Madison Morey in the third period to break the 2-2 tie and seal the win, in spite of 29 saves by senior Madison Litchfield.
 
SCOUTING PROVIDENCE
The Friars finished the regular season with a 16-15-3 record (11-10-3 WHEA) and shared fourth place in Hockey East with the Catamounts. By virtue of winning the regular season series with UVM, Providence won the tiebreaker and was seeded fourth. The team closed out the slate meeting No. 6 Boston College for a home-and-home, which included a 4-1 upset of the Eagles on Saturday.
 
Not much has changed for the Friars since last crossing paths with Vermont as senior Cassidy Carels continues to guide the offense. Her 33 points (18 g, 15 a) is a team-high and is just ahead of junior Brooke Boquist (18-13-31). While the Friars as a team have scored an even 30 goals more than UVM this season, they also have surrendered 19 more than the Green and Gold and have a collective GAA of 2.89.
 
Between the pipes, Providence has been guided largely in part by sophomore Madison Myers, who has compiled a 2.69 goals against average and two shutouts. The Colchester, Vermont native was in goal for both draws between the sides during the regular season.
 
ALL-TIME HISTORY BETWEEN VERMONT & PROVIDENCE
While the Friars lead the all-time series with Vermont, it is UVM who has had a strong showing in the most recent 10 matchups of the sides (6-2-2). Included in that stretch is a five-game Vermont winning streak that ran from Feb. 22, 2014 to Oct. 24, 2015. In four of their last five regular season games within the confines of Schneider Arena, the Catamounts have emerged with at least one point in hand.
 
Vermont's most recent win in the series came on Nov. 14, 2015 in Burlington. UVM used goals from Bridget Baker and Bella Webster to battle back from a 3-1 deficit in the third period, then sent the fans home happy when Taylor Willard snuck home a power play goal with 3.2 seconds to play. Molly Depew made 14 saves on the day and the Catamounts went 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.
 
LAST TIME VS. PROVIDENCE
Senior Madison Litchfield reset her season-high with 38 saves, but Meaghan Rickard scored for Providence with a mere six tenths of a second remaining in regulation as the Catamounts finished the afternoon with a 2-2 draw in hand at Gutterson Fieldhouse on February 10. Three different seniors notched a point for the Catamounts in the tie.
 
KELLY IN RECORD POSITION
Senior tri-captain Sarah Kelly appeared in her 140th career game on Senior Day against Merrimack last Saturday (Feb. 18), tying a program record held by former teammate Dayna Colang (2012-16). Kelly has laced up for all but three contests during her four-year career in Burlington and can take sole possession of the program lead this weekend.
 
COMING TO YOUR 'ADE'
Senior defenseman and tri-captain Rachael Ade has lit the lamp in three of her last five games, having scored against Merrimack (Feb. 17), Providence (Feb. 10) and New Hampshire (Feb. 4). In the UNH contest, the Davenport, Florida product gave the Catamounts a 2-0 lead in the middle stanza with what ultimately turned out to be the game-winning goal. Her 14 points on the season are a career-high.
 
Additionally, Ade's goal and helper on Friday, Feb. 17 marked her third multi-point game of the season and fifth of her career.
 
KOLOWRAT RECOGNIZED AT OLYMPIC QUALIFIER
Representing the Czech Republic, sophomore Sammy Kolowrat was recognized on February 12 as the Most Outstanding Defenseman at the conclusion of the Group C Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Lacing up in all three games of the round-robin, Kolowrat notched a goal and helped the Czechs to wins over Norway (Feb. 9, 5-0) and Denmark (Feb. 11, 4-3) before falling to Switzerland on Sunday (Feb. 12) by a 4-1 score.
 
I'M HAVIN' A RECORD YEAR
Senior and native Vermonter Madison Litchfield made UVM history on Saturday, Feb. 4, as the Williston product inked her 29th career win with the Green and Gold to gain sole possession of first place in that category in program history. The victory lifted her past Tiffany Hayes (1999-2003), who recorded 28 during her time in Burlington.
 
On January 27, Litchfield earned her 28th career win to surpass former teammate Roxanne Douville for the top spot in the Division I era (since 2001) of UVM women's hockey. With 2,138 saves in her career, she ranks fourth all-time behind Douville, who turned aside 2,956 pucks from 2010-14.
 
PLAYING YOUR CARDS RIGHT
Freshman Ève-Audrey Picard continues to serve as one of several offensive spark plugs for the Catamounts, boasting an 12-12-24 line on the season. In the Division I history of Vermont women's hockey, no Catamount freshman prior to Picard has scored 12 goals.
 
She ranks sixth among Hockey East rookies with 0.71 points per game on the season and holds down fourth in the same category (0.71) specifically in conference play. With two goals and four assists, the native of Longueuil, Quebec has also marked the scoresheet in four of her last six games.
 
COME ONE, COME ALL
On Friday, Feb. 3, the Catamounts hosted New Hampshire in front of a Hockey East regular season record crowd of 2,136. That game was played in conjunction with the 4th annual Pack The Gut Challenge presented by The Windjammer Restaurant and Upper Deck Pub and broke the previous league record, which was also held by Vermont. In the first Pack The Gut in 2013-14, UVM drew 2,028 fans to watch the Green and Gold battle Boston College.
 
CATAMOUNTS FEATURED BY USCHO
USCHO columnist Nicole Haase profiled the Catamounts recently, discussing the team's success of late and the steps taken to reach its current stage. Click here to read the story.

NEXT UP
The winner of this best-of-three series will advance to the Hockey East Semifinals at BU's Walter Brown Arena next Saturday (March 4).
 
The Windjammer Restaurant and Upper Deck Pub is the presenting sponsor of the 2016-17 women's hockey season