FINAL SCORE: Vermont 2, No. 15 UConn 3
STORRS, CT. – Julia Mesplède and Oona Havana each notched their first career goal as a Catamount on Sunday night from Storrs, CT at the Toscano Family Ice Forum, but the efforts weren't enough as UConn orchestrated a third period comeback, defeating Vermont 3-2 on home ice. With the result, Vermont drops to 4-15-2 (3-9-2 WHEA) while No. 15 UConn rises to 13-8-1 (11-3-1 WHEA).
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"We've had a lot of heartbreakers this season and this one is no different," said Head Coach Jim Plumer. "When we play within ourselves and stick to the game plan, we are a handful for any team. Any time you play UConn it's a game of chess and they caught us on a few occasions where we didn't keep it simple, and it cost us. We continue to show that we can compete with any team in Hockey East, and we will be back at it trying to clean things up against BU next weekend."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• UConn's points leader Claire Murdoch opened scoring 14:14 into action for the Huskies, earning UConn the opening lead, 1-0. Ashley Allard and Maya Serdachny were each awarded an assist on the goal.  
• 1:58 later, the Catamounts bounced back, seeing Mesplede score her first career goal as a Catamount 16:12 into the first frame, corralling a pass from McKenzie Cerrato in the slot and ripping a shot top shelf to knot the game, 1-1.
• Havana put Vermont ahead with just 43 seconds remaining in the first period, securing her first career goal as a Catamount, displaying incredible defense by finessing the puck away from the UConn skater, and maneuvering her way to the slot where she pinned a shot top right, earning the Catamounts a 2-1 advantage heading into the first intermission.
• After a scoreless middle frame, UConn tied it back up 7:28 into the third period when Meghane Duchesne-Chalifoux found the back of the net, knotting the game, 2-2.
• Murdoch scored the go-ahead goal 12:34 into the final period, burying the loose puck in the crease, giving UConn a 3-2 lead with just under eight minutes if gametime remaining.
• Despite several chances down the final stretch of the game, the Catamounts were never able to find an equalizer goal, as the Huskies skated away with the 3-2 victory on home ice.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Havana led all Catamounts in points, scoring her first career goal while adding one assist, her first career multi-point game. Havana has now scored a point or more in back-to-back games for the first time in her UVM career.
• Mesplede found the back of the net for the first time in her UVM career, scoring one goal to go along with two shots on net.
• Cerrato tallied one assist, her third assist of the season.
• Bent tied a season high four shots on net, which was also a team high.  Bent has notched four shots in back-to-back games, the most shots in a two-game span this season for her.
• Jane Gervais recorded 34 total saves against UConn, her seventh 30+ save performance on the campaign.

 
UP NEXT
Vermont will return home for a weekend series with top 15 ranked Boston University from Gutterson Fieldhouse on Friday (Jan. 10) and Saturday (Jan. 11) with both matchups being slated for a 6 p.m. puck drop. Friday night's game will be the team's annual Vermont Night presented by Vermont Federal Credit Union. Both games will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan on the call.
 
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