FINAL SCORE: Vermont 5, Providence 1
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Taylor Willard scored the game-winning goal in the second period and senior Madison Litchfield made 30 saves as Vermont knocked off Providence 5-1 in Game 2 of the Hockey East Quarterfinals on Saturday at Schneider Arena.
 
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The win by the Catamounts forces a decisive Game 3 in the quarterfinal series, which will be played Sunday at 2 p.m. from Schneider Arena.
 
"I'm so proud of this group," said head coach Jim Plumer. "They came out and played 60 great minutes of our signature style of hockey. Madi was great in net and we played effectively with the lead. Tomorrow will be a real battle for both teams."
 
Litchfield's Providence counterpart, Madison Myers, also tallied 30 stops.
 
For the second time in as many days, both sides were held scoreless in the first 20 minutes, however the Catamounts on Saturday emerged with an 11-7 shot advantage at the end of the frame. Litchfield's seven stops in the period included three during the Friars' lone power play opportunity of the stanza.
 
Ève-Audrey Picard scored for the second straight game, lighting the lamp Saturday on a second period penalty shot. Picard skated in on Myers and tucked the puck five-hole to earn her 14th goal of the season and give the Catamounts a 1-0 lead at 4:44. It also marked Vermont's first-ever penalty shot goal in a Hockey East postseason game.
 
Just over seven minutes later, Willard doubled UVM's lead with what ultimately stood as the game-winner. Alyssa Gorecki tracked down the puck behind the net and found Willard in the high slot, where she fired into traffic for what resulted in her third goal of the season. Victoria Andreakos received the second assist on the goal, which came at 11:51.
 
Kate Friesen responded for the Friars at the 13:00 mark of the third period on a goal assisted by Avery Fransoo and Cassidy Carels.
 
Vermont needed only 90 seconds to move its lead back to two, using Bridget Baker's 12th goal. After Kourtney Menches dished to Baker along the boards in her own zone, she skated along the right wing and roofed her shot from the right circle.
 
In the final minute, UVM added some insurance beginning with Saana Valkama's empty netter (19:15) and followed up with a power play tally by Cassidy Campeau (19:50).
 
The winner of Sunday's Game 3 will advance to the Hockey East Semifinals on March 4 at Walter Brown Arena in Boston.
 
The Windjammer Restaurant and Upper Deck Pub is the presenting sponsor of the 2016-17 women's hockey season