FINAL SCORE: Vermont 4, New Hampshire 2
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Freshmen Natálie Mlynková, Bella Parento and Maddy Skelton scored their first career goals leading the Catamounts to a 4-2 win over New Hampshire Saturday night at Gutterson Fieldhouse in the season opener for Vermont. With the win the Catamounts start the season 1-0-0 while the Wildcats fall to 1-6-0.

COACH'S QUOTE
"It has been a long and winding road to get to this point but so happy for our players and everyone in our program that we finally start the season and get started on the right foot," said Head Coach Jim Plumer. "We played with a lot of energy and it was great to see so many people contribute. It's also so exciting to see three freshmen get their first career goals in their first game. I am very much looking forward to seeing us develop as we play more games."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Lauren Martin opened the scoring for the Wildcats just 2:10 into the first period. Martin gathered a loose puck around the blue line, skated into the slot and fired a shot over Natalie Ferenc's blocker for her second goal of the season.
• The Wildcats lead was short lived, Mlynková struck back 46 seconds later. She gathered the puck along the boards and cut to the net through two UNH defenders before chipping a puck past Ava Boutilier for her first career goal.
• Parento gave the Catamounts the lead for good with her marker 11:16 into the opening frame. She fired a wrist shot from the point that deflected off a Wildcats defenseman and trickled just past the goal line.
• After assisting on the first two UVM goals Val Caldwell found the back of the net herself 2:59 into the second period. In a goal mouth scramble involving eight skaters Caldwell found the loose puck and powered it home to double the UVM advantage.
• With 3:14 left in the second period the Catamounts pulled away with another goal. On a two-on-one Lily Humprhey centered a feed to Skelton and Skelton quickly went backhand to forehand and roofed a shot past Boutilier.
• UNH's Annie Berry scored her first career goal 2:44 into the third period to round out the scoring Saturday night. Ferenc made four saves in the final frame to seal her fourth career win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Over the last three seasons Vermont is now 16-4-4 when leading after two periods.
• The Catamounts are now 3-3-3 in home openers under Head Coach Jim Plumer. Half of the program's home opener wins have come under Coach Plumer.
• Vermont's Sara Levesque had a team-high four blocked shots tonight.
• When the Cats Win, Community Wins. With each Catamount win, Vermont Mutual Insurance donates $100 to a local non-profit. For 2020 they will be donating $15,000 to Spectrum Youth and Family Services. A special thank you to Vermont Mutual Insurance for their support. Vermont Mutual Insurance, protecting Vermonters since 1828.
• With tonight's score of 4-2 Community Bank, N.A. will be adding a donation of $300 to Special Olympics Vermont. Cheer on our Catamounts as they go for the win while creating a special bond with community members! Thank you Community Bank, N.A. for your support of our UVM and Special Olympics athletes! 

WHO'S NEXT
The Catamounts and Wildcats will do it again tomorrow night at 6 p.m. Free streaming of the contest will be available on CBS CollegeSportsLive with Rob Ryan on the call.