FINAL SCORE (OT): Vermont 6, New Hampshire 5
DURHAM, NH. – Oona Havana scored her first career hat-trick on Saturday evening from the Whittemore Center, helping lift Vermont (15-16-5, 9-11-4 HEA) over New Hampshire (16-15-3, 10-12-2 HEA) in overtime 6-5 during the teams regular season finale. With the overtime win, Vermont clinches the six seed in the Hockey East Women's Tournament, earning a bye into the Quarterfinals, gearing up to face the three seed, Boston College, scheduled for Saturday (Feb. 28) from Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, MA.
 
RELATED LINKS
Box Score
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"What a finish and what a day for Oona Havana," said Head Coach Jim Plumer. "Obviously it's great to get a win to finish the season and I'm proud of our ability to generate six goals today. But we know we are going to have to play a complete game next week to keep our season going. Excited for the opportunity we have in the playoffs."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• It took Vermont just 21 seconds to open scoring on Saturday afternoon, seeing Anna Podein feed Lauren O'Hara in the slot who wasted no time beating the blocker side of Noemi Martinez for her sixth goal of the season, scoring in under 21 seconds for the second time on the campaign, earning the Catamounts the opening 1-0 lead.
• The Wildcats bounced back with 18:46 on the clock in the opening frame, seeing Nina Rossi pick off a pass in the Vermont zone, using her backhand to score her 14th goal of the season on a breakaway, knotting the score at 1-1.
• Vermont regained the lead on the power play with 12:34 on the clock in the first period when Julia Mesplède sniped the top right corner while being parallel with the goal line, scoring her first goal back since returning from the 2026 Winter Olympics, her eighth of the season, giving the Catamounts a 2-1 advantage.
• Just 1:25 later, the Catamounts gained a 3-1 lead when Josie Hemp fired a shot on net as Vermont gained the zone on a three-on-two rush, seeing the UNH netminder make the initial save, but Oona Havana was backdoor for the rebound, burying her 11th goal of the season to propel UVM to a two-goal lead.
• Alex Therien successfully executed a breakaway opportunity with 16:09 on the clock in the second period, getting her backhand shot to trickle across the goal line for her first career goal, bringing New Hampshire back to within one, 3-2.
• 13:11 into the second frame, Vermont pounced back on the scoreboard once again, this time seeing Stella Retrum find Hemp who was trailing on an offensive rush, using a snapshot to go bar down on Sedona Blair, scoring her seventh goal of the season, earning UVM with 4-2 lead.
• 48 seconds later, Havana scored her second goal of the game after corralling her own shot that got blocked upon a Catamount offensive rush, using a wrist shot to snipe the top left corner, notching her 12th goal on the campaign to give Vermont the three-goal lead, 5-2.
• New Hampshire wasn't backing down, seeing Addison Finn score her second goal of the season with less than five minutes to go in the middle period, keeping the Wildcats in striking distance, down 5-3.
• In the third period, New Hampshire stormed back to tie the game, getting goals from Courtney Lilley 7:54 into the final period, and the equalizer from Kelly Harty with less than three minutes of regulation remaining, ultimately sending the game to overtime.
• With 2:14 on the clock in overtime, Mesplède and Natalie Zarcone worked the puck to Havana deep in the Wildcat zone, who quickly wheeled her way to the front of the net. Once in front of Blair, Havana executed a highlight reel goal, going between the legs to flip a shot over the shoulder of the UNH goalie, securing her first career hat-trick, and the overtime winner to earn Vermont the 6-5 road victory from the Whittemore Center.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Havana scored three goals against UNH and led a game-high six shots on goal, putting her at a team high 13 total goals on the season thus far. It was her first career hat-trick and the first hat-trick for UVM since October 27, 2023, when Natálie Mlýnková scored three goals against UNH from Gutterson Fieldhouse.
• Zarcone recorded two assists on Saturday and had a game high +/- rating of +3. It was Zarcone's second career multi-assist game.
• Mesplède, O'Hara, and Hemp all recorded two points on one goal and one assist against New Hampshire on Saturday.
• Brochu recorded two assists while winning 15 of her 20 faceoffs, extending her points streak to five games (8 points, 4 goals, 4 assists). It was the second game this season Brochu has tallied multiple assists in the same contest.
• Retrum recorded two assists, the third time this season notching a multi-assist game.
• Brooke George registered one assist, her fourth of the season, now having a point in back-to-back games for the first time in her career. George also skated in her 100th career game on Saturday at UNH.
• Kaylee Lewis and Podein each tallied one assist against New Hampshire.
• Morgann Skoda skated in her 100th career game on Saturday at New Hampshire.
• UVM outshot UNH on goal 32-25.
• The Catamounts scored a power play goal for the second consecutive game, now having a PP goal in nine of their last 13 contests.
• Vermont successfully killed both UNH power plays on Saturday. UVM is a perfect 22-22 on the PK in their last six outings.
• With today's Win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to the Lund Family Center through the Cat's Win, Community Win's initiative. Vermont Mutual has donated over $5 Million Dollars since launching their Charitable Giving Fund in 2014.
• With tonight's 6-5 decision, Community Bank N.A. will donate $300 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
Following the overtime win over New Hampshire, Vermont enters the Hockey East Women's Tournament as the #6 seed, traveling to the #3 seed, Boston College, for the Quarterfinals on Saturday (Feb. 28) from Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, MA. Like all regular season action, Saturday's playoff game will be streamed live on ESPN+. Game time will be announce on UVMAthletics.com and UVMWhockey socials once available. 
 
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