FINAL SCORE: Vermont 5, Northeastern 2
BURLINGTON, Vt. – The University of Vermont Catamounts scored three goals in the second period and took a 5-2 victory over the Northeastern University Huskies on Friday at Gutterson Fieldhouse.
 
The Catamounts improve to 7-16-4 and 4-11-3 in Hockey East play while the Huskies move to 13-11-3 and 9-8-2 in conference play.
 
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"This is the type of game we have been building towards over the last month and it felt great to put the pieces together tonight and finally get a big conference win," Head Coach Jim Plumer said. "We are playing a great team game and we really have fun out there. We are looking forward to the rematch with an excellent Northeastern team tomorrow."
 
Picard scored her seventh of the season to give Vermont a 1-0 lead 7:22 into the first period. She skated down on Mackenzie MacNeil and a Northeastern defender in the corner as MacNeil moved the puck to the front of the net. Initially over-skating the puck, Picard spun around and fired a shot five-hole past Brittany Bugalski.
 
Lauren Kelly tied the game for the Huskies less than two minutes later following a Vermont turnover in the defensive zone. Maddi Hartman received the puck from Bailey Coyne at the blue line and moved the puck across the line to Kelly, who fired a wrist shot into traffic and under Sydney Scobee's left pad for the goal.
 
The Huskies held a 10-5 advantage in shots in a very fast period where neither team was whistled for a penalty.
 
Kourtney Menches opened the scoring for the Catamounts less than three minutes into the middle frame. Taylor Willard fired a shot from the point as Menches screened Bugalski and tipped the puck by the Husky netminder. Amanda Drobot also picked up an assist on the play.
 
The Catamounts picked up the first penalty of the game with 9:37 remaining in the second as Drobot was called for hooking. Menches blocked the sole Northeastern shot attempt of the power play as the Cats killed off the minor penalty.
 
Picard tallied her second of the game with just over six minutes remaining in the second to give Vermont a 3-1 lead. She screened Bugalski and tipped a Katherine Pate shot into the back of the net. Daria O'Neill picked up an assist and Pate grabbed her second helper of the game.
 
Following an Ainsley MacMillan penalty for cross-checking, Sammy Kolowrat pushed the Vermont lead to 4-1 on the advantage after ripping a shot past Northeastern goalie Aerin Frankel, who had just stepped in to replace Bugalski. Willard and Picard assisted on the goal.
 
UVM entered the second intermission with a three goal lead despite the Huskies holding an 11-9 advantage in shots. Scobee stopped all 11 Northeastern shots in the period and tallied 20 saves through 40 minutes.
 
Taytum Clairmont cut the Catamount lead to 4-2 on a power play 5:26 into the period. She received a pass along the boards to Scobee's right and moved across the slot before ripping a shot past Scobee.
 
Scobee shut the door on a Northeastern scoring chance at the top of the crease with just under seven minutes remaining in regulation to keep the Catamount lead at 4-2.
 
The Huskies pulled Frankel for the extra attacker with about 2:30 remaining, and MacNeil sealed the victory for the Catamounts with 48 seconds remaining with an empty net goal.
 
Scobee finished the game with 27 saves to earn her sixth win of the season. Bugalski finished with nine saves and Frankel tallied seven stops for the Huskies. Nine different Catamounts found their way onto the score sheet with five recording multiple points.
 
With the victory, the Cats Win, Community Wins campaign and Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate another $100 to the Boys and Girls Club of Burlington, bringing this year's total to 79 wins and $7,900.
 
The Catamounts and Huskies take the ice at 4 p.m. tomorrow afternoon in Gutterson Fieldhouse in the second game of the season series.
 
The Windjammer and Upper Deck Pub is the presenting sponsor of the 2017-18 women's hockey season