The 14th-ranked UConn women’s ice hockey team shut out the University of Vermont Catamounts 1-0 on Saturday, polishing off a two-game road sweep. The win brought the Huskies’ record to 14-3-2 in Hockey East conference play and 16-8-2 overall. The Huskies continued an unbeaten streak of nine games this weekend, during which UConn had seven wins and two ties. Connecticut’s last loss was to Yale on Nov. 29, and the Huskies have ridden a hot streak since then, which has vaulted them to the top of the Hockey East standings.
UConn’s first game against Vermont in the series on Friday began with a tough start for the Huskies, as the Catamounts struck quickly in the first period. Only four minutes into the game, an attempted snipe to the left of goal from Vermont’s Kyla Bent deflected off the stick of Cecilia DesLauriers and into the top right corner of the net, putting the Catamounts up 1-0. This score would hold through the end of the first period.
In the second period, UConn found their stride and bounced back. In a mirroring of the previous goal, the Huskies’ defenseman Emma Eryou took the puck and fired a powerful shot from a distance. This strike received no deflection, slotting past Vermont goalie Sydney Correa on the left side and knotting the game up at 1-1.
The back-and-forth continued as the Catamounts wasted little time in regaining the lead, this time capitalizing on a power play opportunity, with a deflected shot from Vermont’s Maddy Skelton arcing its way over the head of Huskies goalie Tia Chan for the goal, making the score 2-1. Penalties would remain an issue for UConn all game, as they racked up five to Vermont’s two. Three of those penalties occurred in the second period, but thanks to the efforts of Chan, who made 12 saves after the power play goal, the Catamounts were unable to extend their lead heading into the third and final frame.
UConn looked to equalize early in the third period, as Megan Woodworth stole the puck at center ice and rushed towards the goal, only to have her shot saved by Correa. However, the Huskies would not be denied. Just 40 seconds later, a shot from Kyla Josifovic was saved but not corralled, and Ashley Allard was right there to put the puck in the back of the
net for her seventh goal of the season. The score of 2-2 remained for the rest of regulation, despite a flurry of shots from Vermont in the final two minutes.
In overtime, Woodworth got the chance to avenge her missed opportunity, as she received a pass from Maya Serdachny. Woodworth took the puck and ran with it, racing straight at Vermont’s Correa and decisively smashing the puck into the net, winning the game 3-2. It marked the second overtime win for the Huskies this season, following a 2-1 victory against Holy Cross on Nov. 1.
In their second bout with Vermont the next day, Connecticut came out swinging. Skillful passes from Allard and Josifovic led to freshman Claire Murdoch holding the puck near the right side of the net, and she drifted left before flicking a shot straight past Vermont goalie Jane Gervais. The goal was Murdoch’s team-leading 11th of the season, putting her at 20 points overall.
As it turned out, one goal was all the Huskies needed to close out the contest, because the rest of the game belonged to UConn goalie Megan Warrener. She made 20 saves, six of them in the third period, to secure her second shutout of the campaign.
Vermont’s best chance to tie the game might have been a minute into the third frame, as the Catamounts’ Julia Mesplède corralled a pass off the wall in front of the net and fired, only to be denied as Warrener made the save. The Huskies had opportunities to extend their lead throughout the game, holding a 28-20 shot advantage over the Catamounts overall, but ultimately held on through a nervy finish. After Vermont pulled their goalie with a minute and a half remaining in regulation, they won a faceoff and Mesplede was able to get off a shot, but the effort was blocked by UConn defenseman Brooke Campbell, preserving the win and the sweep for Connecticut.
After the two defeats, Vermont remains in eighth place in the Hockey East with 18 points from 19 games played. Their next matchup will be played against Northeastern on Feb. 1. UConn, on the other hand, sits on top of the conference, having accrued 42 points in 19 games. The Huskies will return to Storrs on Jan. 31 versus Merrimack at the Toscano Family Ice Forum. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m. and Husky fans can tune in on ESPN+.