FINAL SCORE: Vermont 3, Maine 2
ORONO, Maine – Corinne McCool scored the deciding goal for the second consecutive game as the Vermont Catamounts (7-7-5, 4-5-3 HEAW) defeated the Maine Black Bears (7-9-2, 4-7-1 HEAW) 3-2 on Saturday afternoon at Alfond Arena.
 
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COACH'S QUOTE
"Obviously this is a great way to go into the break," said head coach Jim Plumer. "It starts with our leadership and their ability to keep the team focused even while things weren't going our way over the past few weeks. I'm really proud of this entire team for their commitment to our program. We have 25 players who are all bought in and it really shows in the way we play. This was a total team effort this weekend."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cats jumped out to a 1-0 lead 6:12 into the game on Kristina Shanahan's second goal of the series. Lily Humphrey found Shanahan near the Black Bear net where she delivered a shot past Carly Jackson (25 saves). Ali O'Leary was credited with the secondary assist on the opening goal, which came on a power play.
• Ida Press answered for Maine at the midway point of the first period with a power-play goal that was set up by Liga Miljone. Press' shot from the point flew through traffic before beating Blanka Škodová (23 saves).
• Vermont took advantage of a 4-on-1 rush into the Maine zone with 5:39 left in the second period as Maude Poulin-Labelle recorded her eighth goal of the season. The UVM blueliner quickly fired a shot past the glove of Jackson. Corinne McCool and Ève-Audrey Picard assisted on the go-ahead goal.
• McCool gave UVM a two-goal lead in the final minute of the middle frame when she wired a shot off the post and in. Picard registered her second assist of the game on McCool's eighth of the season.
• Michelle Weis cut the Catamounts' lead with 10:34 remaining. Nicole Pateman directed a shot on goal and Weis jammed a rebound home for her first of the season. Taylor Leech had the secondary assist.

NOTES

• Vermont earns its first road-sweep since it defeated Merrimack twice in North Andover during the 2017-18 season.
• UVM swept Holy Cross last season at Gutterson Fieldhouse with a pair of wins over the Crusaders.
• With the victory, the Cats Win, Community Wins campaign and Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to Make-A-Wish Vermont, bringing this year's total to 105 wins and $10,500. A special thank you to Vermont Mutual Insurance for their support. Vermont Mutual Insurance, protecting Vermonters since 1828.  

UP NEXT
Vermont continues the 2019-20 campaign on Monday (Dec. 30) at Northeastern. The Catamounts return from break to face the third-ranked Huskies at Matthews Arena. Fans can watch the Hockey East foes battle it out on NESN at 4 p.m.
 
The Windjammer and Upper Deck Pub is the presenting sponsor of the 2019-20 women's hockey season