University of Maine
Vermont
Women's Hockey Unbeaten Streak Snapped at Six Games, Fall at Vermont 4-3 in OT
12/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
BURLINGTON, Vt. -- The University of Maine women's hockey team fought back to tie the game in the third period, sending it into overtime, but would fall 4-3 to the Vermont Catamounts on Saturday evening. The loss drops Maine to 7-7-3 overall and 2-3-2 in Women's Hockey East action. Vermont improves to 2-8-8 on the season and picks up its first league win, moving to 1-6-4 in league action. Danielle Ward (Lansing, Mich.) led the Black Bears' offense with a pair of goals.
Vermont jumped out to a 1-0 lead, 11:17 into the first period, when Teddy Fortin stole the puck in the Maine zone and fired a slap shot that snuck past Black Bear goaltender Brittany Ott (St. Clair Shores, Mich.).
The Catamounts would extend their lead to 2-0 early in the second period when they capitalized while skating on the power play. Breanne Sundquist took the initial shot from the left point that was knocked down on its way towards the net. Chelsea Rapin picked up the loose puck in front of the Maine net and stuffed a shot home. Kailey Nash also assisted on the goal for Vermont.
The Black Bears would get on the board 5:23 into the second period when Ward notched her seventh goal of the season. Brittany Dougherty (Chesterfield, Mich.) controlled the puck with great patience behind the Catamount net. Dougherty saw an opening and slid a pass into the slot to Ward who immediatly fired a wrist shot into the back of the Catamount net.
Vermont would regain a two-goal advantage 5:22 into the third period when Erin Wente tallied her fourth goal of the season. Wente stole the puck in the neutral zone and skated in all alone on Ott. Wente put a couple moves on the Black Bear goaltender and beat her with a backhand over the right leg pad of Ott.
The Black Bears would fight back to tie the game as they scored the next two goals of the contest.
Just eight seconds after the goal by Wente, Jennie Gallo (Castlegar, British Columbia) would bring Maine within one goal with her tenth goal of the season. Missy Denk (Poplar Grove, Ill.) and Gallo broke into the Catamout zone on a 2-on-1. Denk carried the puck into the Vermont zone, to the right circle, before sending a pass cross ice to Gallo. Gallo gathered the puck and rifled a shot that beat Catamount goaltender Roxanne Douville.
Ward would tie things up for Maine 12:51 into the third period with her second goal of the game. With the Black Bears on the power play, Ward would skate through the Catamount zone before sending a pass back to the point to Kelly McDonald (Ancaster, Ontario). McDonald would control the puck before sending the puck back down to the goal line to Ward who quickly one-timed the puck past a diving Douville. Dawn Sullivan (Enfield, Nova Scotia) was credited with the second assist for the Black Bears.
The game would move into overtime where Wente would win it for Vermont, 1:57 into the extra time period. Rapin ripped a wrist shot that was kicked aside by Ott but right to a racing Wente who slapped a shot past a laid out Ott. The goal gave Vermont a 4-3 victory.
Vermont earned the edge in shots on goal at 25-20 and were 2-for-5 on the power play while Maine was 1-for-5 on their power play.
Ott made 21 saves in net for Maine as her record drops to 6-6-3. On the other side of the ice, Douville made 17 saves in the win for Vermont, improving her record to 2-5-6.
The Black Bears return to action on Friday, Dec. 10 when they host Union College at Alfond Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m.
-U-M-
