University of Maine
Vermont
Dawn Sullivan's Last Second Goal Propels Maine Past Vermont, 3-2
12/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
BURLINGTON, Vt. -- Captain Dawn Sullivan's (Enfield, Nova Scotia) goal with nine seconds remaining in the third period broke a 2-2 tie and gave the Black Bears the 3-2 Women's Hockey East Association (WHEA) victory over Vermont on Friday night. The win moved Maine to 7-6-3 overall and 2-2-2 in WHEA play. The loss drops Vermont back to 1-8-8 and 0-6-4 in league play. The win also extends Maine's unbeaten streak to six games.
Maine would jump on the scoreboard first after taking advantage of five minute major hitting from behind and game misconduct penalties on the Catamounts. The Black Bears would set up on the 5-on-3 power play as Kelly McDonald (Ancaster, Ontario) worked the puck through the Vermont zone to Jordan Colliton (Blackie, Alberta). Colliton slid the puck to Jennie Gallo (Castlegar, British Columbia) who lit the lamp for her team-leading fifth power play goal of the season. The assist by McDonald was her first career point as a Black Bear. The power play goal was Maine's fourth in as many games. 5-3
The Catamounts would tie things up, 17:02 into the first period with a power play goal of their own. Hannah Westbrook found Erin Wente who beat Ott for her second goal of the season. Kailey Nash also assisted on the goal for Vermont.
After a scoreless second period, Brittany Dougherty (Chesterfield, Mich.) put Maine back on top with the Black Bears' second power play goal of the game. Danielle Ward (Lansing, Mich.) got the play started by moving the puck to junior captain Sullivan. Sullivan would find Dougherty who lit the lamp, giving Maine its second lead of the contest.
However, the Catamounts would come right back and tie the game just 45 seconds later when Wente notched her second goal of the contest. Jul Sifers found Lindsey Cashman who quickly moved the puck ahead to Wente for found the back of the net to tie the game at two goals a piece.
With 19:51 remaining in the third period, Sullivan would beat Vermont goaltender Roxanne Douville to give Maine the 3-2 victory. The Catamounts seemed to be breaking the puck out of their zone but Sullivan would keep the pressure on and pick the pocket of the Vermont defender. Sullivan would be patient with the puck, walking in on Douville and firing a shot that snuck high over Douville's glove side. The goal would be reviewed by the officials but would stand, giving Maine a 3-2 league win. The goal was Sullivan's third in the last three games.
Ott was again strong in net for the Black Bears as she made 29 saves, moving her record to 6-5-3 on the season. Douville made 20 saves for Vermont as her record drops to 1-5-6 on the season.
Vermont outshot the Black Bears 31-23 in the contest. Maine was 2-5 on the power play while Vermont cashed in on just one of its six power play opportunities.
The two teams finish up the weekend series tomorrow at 4 p.m. from Gutterson Fieldhouse.
-U-M-
