FINAL SCORE: UConn 4, Vermont 2
BURLINGTON, Vt.  – UConn scored three third period goals to erase a two-goal deficit and defeat Vermont 4-2 Saturday night in Hockey East action from Gutterson Fieldhouse. With the loss, the Catamounts fell to 2-3-1 overall and 1-2-1 in league action.

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COACH'S QUOTE
"We have to learn how to win these tight games within our league," Head Coach Steve Wiedler said. "Our team was great for 40 minutes. Unfortunately, we didn't take care of business in the third. We lost the special teams battle tonight. Those two things are on us as a coaching staff. We will be back at it this week looking at how we prepared for that third period, etc. and be better from it. "
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Catamount started strong once again on Saturday outshooting the Huskies 9-1 early in the first period. Ethan Haider making his first appearance between the pipes at the Gut stopped all nine attempts by Vermont.
• Gabe Carriere stoned UConn's Tristan Fraser on a breakaway with 7:31 to play in the opening frame to keep things scoreless. Fraser beat a Vermont defender to a spot and skated in alone but Carriere calmly made a glove save.
• Vermont opened the scoring 6:45 into the second period. UConn's Haider attempted a breakout pass that deflected off a UConn forward on the wall. Jens Richards pounced on the opportunity taking the puck and skating into the slot before firing a shot past Haider for his first goal of the season.
• With 6:50 to go in the middle frame Ryan Miotto doubled the Catamounts advantage to make it 2-0. On the forecheck, Chris Theodore forced a turnover in the corner and he fed the puck to Miotto in front who beat Haider with a quick shot for his first of the season.
• The Huskies got one back with a 30-second five-on-three late in the second period. Samu Salminen one-timed a feed from Hudson Schandor home for his third goal of the season.
• Fraser tied the contest up at two 5:17 into the third period with a great individual effort. Fraser forced a turnover at the UVM line and skated in on a two-on-one, looking shot all the way he beat Carriere with a quick wrister for his third goal of the season.
• 26 seconds later Matthew Wood gave the Huskies the lead. Tom Messineo fired a wrist shot from the point and the rebound came right to Wood who tapped it home. The Catamounts committed a penalty on the play and the Huskies went right to the power play.
• Wood struck again 12 seconds after his first goal to make it a two-goal lead for UConn. Wood broke into the UVM zone with speed and with a toe-drag he cut to the middle before roofing his fifth of the year.
• Jake Percival closed out the win for the Huskies with an empty-net tally, his second of the season with 1:02 left in regulation.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Saturday night was the Catamounts annual Keurig Dr Pepper Can for Coffee Food Drive. Fans who brought in a canned food item were entered into an in-game raffle for a free Keurig brewer.
• First year forward Daniel Sambuco made his collegiate debut Saturday night. He registered three shots on net.
• Tonight, was the Catamounts first loss this season when scoring the first goal.
• Saturday night was the eighth straight game the Huskies have failed to score a first period goal.
• With tonight's 5-2 decision, Community Bank N.A. will donate $150 to Special Olympics Vermont. Community Bank, N.A. donates $75 per goal to Special Olympics Vermont for every goal the men's and women's team scores this season.

UP NEXT
The Catamounts return to action next weekend as they travel to the Pioneer Valley to take on No. 18 UMass in a two-game Hockey East set. Friday's contest is set for 7 p.m. and will be Vermont's first appearance on NESN this season. On Saturday evening the teams will faceoff at 6 p.m. Both games will still air live on ESPN+. As always, the games will be broadcast live on WVMT with the voice of the Catamounts Adam Lafleur in the Handy Toyota Broadcast Booth. 
 
Handy Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the UVM men's hockey program