FINAL SCORE: Vermont 3, Providence 5
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Vermont (4-14-2, 3-8-2 WHEA) fell 5-3 to Providence (8-8-3, 4-6-2 WHEA) on Friday night from Gutterson Fieldhouse in the team's first matchup of 2025, nearly doubling the Friars in shots as the Catamounts generated their second 30+ shot performance in just as many games.  
 
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COACH'S QUOTE
"We solved one part of our game with some of our best offensive output of the year," said Head Coach Jim Plumer. "But we weren't sharp defensively and that cost us the game unfortunately. It was great to see Kaylee Lewis get her first of the season and for Josie Hemp to get her first goal as a Catamount. I know we are capable of playing better defense as we've done for most of the season thus far. Next opportunity to get better is Sunday at UConn."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Friars struck first 17:29 into the first period on their first powerplay of the game, seeing graduate student defender Brooke Becker go coast to coast with the puck untouched, electing to snipe a snap shot glove side high for her second goal of the season, earning Providence the 1-0 advantage.
• Vermont responded just 3:29 into the second frame when Evelyne Blais-Savoie carried the puck below the goal line, circling upwards towards the boards where she fed Kaylee Lewis just above the far circle, electing to unleash a snapshot to the blocker side, scoring her first goal of the season, knotting the game, 1-1.
• 8:54 into the second period, the Catamounts doubled their lead when Ashley Kokavec corralled a pass from Oona Havana in the slot, pinning her shot top shelf, glove side high, ringing the puck bar down for her third goal of the season, earning Vermont the 2-1 advantage with a little over half the second frame remaining. Lewis was awarded a secondary assist on the goal. 
• Providence orchestrated three answered goals to conclude the second period, taking a 4-2 advantage into the final frame.
• The Catamounts pounced early once again to begin the third period just 2:24 in, seeing a three-on-two offensive rush by the Catamounts result in Maddy Skelton firing a shot on net. After the Providence goalie made an initial save with her shoulder bumping the puck in the air, Josie Hemp was in the perfect spot to bat the puck out of midair into the net, securing her first career collegiate goal, bringing Vermont within a single tally, 4-3. Kyla Bent was awarded a secondary assist on the goal.
• Ashley Clark registered an empty net goal for Providence with 1:30 left to play in the game, securing the Friars a 5-3 victory on Friday night from Gutterson Fieldhouse

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Lewis and Kokavec each tallied two points, seeing Lewis secure her first goal of the season while adding one assist. Kokavec recorded her second multi-point game of the season, notching one goal and one assist.
• Hemp tallied her first career goal to go along with two shots on net.
• Skelton registered her first point of the season, earning one assist on Friday night against Providence.
• Bent earned a season high four shots on goal to go along with one assist.
• Havana tallied a career high five shots to go along with her first career assist in a Vermont uniform.
• Blais-Savoie recorded a game high three blocked shots while registering one assist and 10 faceoff wins.
• Vermont outshot Providence 30-17.
• The Catamounts won 24 faceoffs to the Friars 17.

 
UP NEXT
The Catamounts will hit the road for a matchup with #15 UConn in Storrs, CT from the Toscano Family Ice Forum on Sunday (Jan. 5). Puck drop is slated for 3 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and TSN+.
 
For news and updates about the Vermont women's hockey program, follow @UVMwhockey on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com.
 
The Windjammer Inn and Conference Center is the presenting sponsor of the UVM women's hockey program