FINAL SCORE: Vermont 1, #5 Cornell 5
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Four unanswered goals from the Big Red on Saturday evening helped No. 5 Cornell (10-3-1) defeat Vermont (6-10-2) 5-1 from Gutterson Fieldhouse during the team's final non-conference weekend series of 2025. The Catamounts ultimately split the two day set with Cornell to begin their five-game homestand.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score
CatamounTV Highlights
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"Tough outcome today but credit to Cornell, they are a top-tier team for a reason, and they deserve the win today," said Head Coach Jim Plumer. "I thought we were right there through two periods but couldn't solve their goalie and the score got away from us in the third period. Overall, there were many more positive than negatives this weekend and it reinforces that when we can compete with anyone. Looking forward to a very tough weekend with Holy Cross to finish the semester next weekend."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Abby Thibodeau opened the scoring for the Big Red with 8:01 to play in the first period. She fired a wrist shot from the point that found the top corner through traffic. Thibodeau's second goal of the season was assisted by Avi Adam and Karel Prefontaine.
• Cornell doubled its advantage 8:42 into the middle frame with Piper Grober's fifth goal of the season. Nora Curtis cut the UVM net and tried to stuff the puck past UVM's Ellie Simmons. Simmons made the initial stop, but the rebound squirted out to the point where Grober stashed it home.
• The Big Red made it a three-goal lead 3:20 into the third period. Cornell forced a turnover on the forecheck and converted a two-on-one down low as Georgia Schiff found the back of the net.
• Schiff struck again on the power play to take over the Cornell lead in goals with seven this year. Her tally at the 15:33 mark made it 4-0 Big Red.
• Julia Mesplède broke the Cornell shutout attempt 39 seconds later for the Catamounts on a great individual effort. She beat a Cornell defender one-on-one to the outside and then while spinning back towards the net she fooled the Big Red defender with a quick shot.
• Cornell answered right back 82 seconds later as McKenna Van Gelder closed out the scoring to make it 5-1.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Mesplède had a three-goal weekend for the Catamounts against No. 5 Cornell.
• Lauren O'Hara had a team-high four shots on goal on Saturday.
• Rose-Marie Brochu won 63.6% of her faceoffs on Saturday, winning 14 out of 22.
• With this evening's 5-1 decision, Community Bank N.A. will donate $50 to Special Olympics Vermont. Community Bank, N.A. donates $50 per goal to Special Olympics Vermont for every goal the men's and women's team scores this season.

 
UP NEXT
The Catamounts are back at home next weekend for their final games of 2025 as they host Holy Cross in a two-game Hockey East set. The teams will faceoff at 2 p.m. on Friday, December 5 and again at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Rob Ryan will have the call of both contests on ESPN+.

Friday is the Catamounts Rally Around Mental Health Game presented by Redstone Lofts. Saturday is the annual Teddy Bear Toss presented by TD Bank. Fans are encouraged to bring new stuffed animals to throw on the ice during the first intermission. Women's Hockey players will deliver the stuffed animals to the King Street Center this holiday season. Tickets are available for both games at go.uvm.edu/hc25.
 
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