FINAL SCORE: Vermont 3, McGill 2
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Ève-Audrey Picard had a goal plus an assist and Melissa Black and Sydney Scobee combined for 22 saves as University of Vermont women's hockey held off McGill 3-2 in the Catamounts' final exhibition contest on Friday night at Gutterson Fieldhouse.
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"I'm really excited for this group to get their first win," said head coach Jim Plumer. "They have really come together nicely and have improved already in just a couple of weeks. We are ready for our first conference game on Sunday."
McGill came out quickly on the attack with the first scoring chance of the game as the Martlets entered the Vermont zone on a 3-on-1. Marie-Philip Lavoie dished a pass to Rachel Santini who had the opportunity to give the Martlets the early lead, but Black (11 saves) stretched across the net to kick away the scoring chance.
Less than two minutes later, the Catamounts opened the scoring on a wrist shot from Taylor Willard. Vermont set up in the Martlets' zone with Daria O'Neill handling the puck on the blue line; O'Neill sent a pass to Val Caldwell who was waiting on the half-wall. Caldwell collected the puck and found Willard at the top of the circle, where she wristed a shot through traffic to beat Tricia Deguire (22 saves) at 11:38 of the first period.
Sydney Scobee (11 saves) entered the game with 7:50 remaining in the second period in a pre-planned decision.
Vermont and McGill exchanged scoring chances in a scoreless second period. With 7:50 left in the middle frame, the Catamounts had a chance to pad their lead. Picard controlled the puck behind the McGill goal and patiently found Kristina Shanahan alone in the slot. Shanahan quickly fired a wrist shot, but narrowly missed the net.
Later on in the period, the Martlets returned the favor with a chance of their own as Lavoie intercepted a pass meant for a Catamount defenseman. Lavoie took off for the Catamounts zone and dropped a pass to Olivia Atkinson, who collected the puck and fired a backhander just wide of the Catamounts' goal.
The third period began with time remaining on Vermont and McGill penalties so the teams set up four aside. Off a face-off win by McGill, Picard pick-pocketed the puck carrier and immediately snapped a shot, beating an unsuspecting Deguire just 16 seconds in to the period.
Moments later, the Catamounts added on to their lead with a power play goal from Shanahan. Vermont had set up in McGill's end, cycling the puck around the top of the zone. Picard controlled the puck on the half-wall and dished a pass to Taylor Flaherty on the blue line. Without hesitation, she wired a pass to Shanahan to the right of the Martlets' goal where she one-timed the puck past Deguire at 4:06 in the third period.
The Martlets answered with a power play goal of their own at 7:17 in the closing frame. Zoe Todd sent a pass across to defensive partner Emilia Cotter. Cotter wristed toward the net as Kellyane Lecours cut across to deflect the shot, beating Scobee.
With 4:30 left in regulation, Jade Downie-Landry exited the Martlets' zone off a pass from Marika Labrecque. The McGill center broke through the neutral zone and deked around a Vermont defender, slipping the puck under Scobee's pads to bring the visitors within one. Cotter earned the secondary assist.
The Catamounts held off McGill's last surge as Deguire was pulled for an extra attacker for the final 54 seconds of regulation.
Vermont opens the regular season on the road as they take on Providence Sunday (Oct. 1) at 2 p.m.
The Windjammer and Upper Deck Pub is the presenting sponsor of the 2017-18 women's hockey season
