The University of Connecticut women’s hockey team found itself chasing St. Cloud State from the opening minutes Saturday afternoon, and despite a late push, the Huskies could not close the gap.
UConn fell 4-2 to St. Cloud State at Torrey Arena in St. Cloud, Minn., this past weekend, completing a two-game sweep and dropping No. 7 UConn to 0-2 to begin its 2026-27 campaign.
For the second straight game, St. Cloud State struck first, scoring within the opening five minutes. Then, UConn quickly responded.
Four minutes later, freshman forward Caileigh Tiller found the back of the net for her first collegiate goal, tying the game at one and giving UConn an early answer. The first period remained closely contested until St. Cloud State regained the lead with just two seconds remaining before the intermission.
St. Cloud entered the locker room with a 2-1 advantage and a 9-7 edge in shots.
The game then shifted decisively in the second period.
St. Cloud State scored twice within a 40-second span early in the frame, turning a one-goal game into a 4-1 deficit and leaving UConn with 20 minutes to find a way back.
The Huskies generated their best offensive push in the third period, outshooting St. Cloud State 15-11. However, they could not consistently turn that pressure into goals.
The second period brought a more physical edge to the matchup, as both teams were assessed five penalties during the final seven minutes of the frame. Neither team could capitalize on the power play. UConn went 0-for-2 with the extra skater while successfully killing all four of St. Cloud State’s opportunities.
With the clock winding down, UConn finally found a breakthrough.
Senior captain Livvy Dewar scored her first goal of the season midway through the third period, cutting the deficit to 4-2 and giving the Huskies an opportunity to mount a comeback. UConn continued to pressure the St. Cloud net, but goaltender Emilia Kyrkkö stopped every remaining shot to preserve the home program’s victory.
The difference ultimately came down to possession and shot volume. St. Cloud State finished with a 35-26 advantage in shots and won the faceoff battle 26-21.
Tiller led UConn with four shots and recorded a point in each of the Huskies’ first two games. Dewar finished with a goal on two shots, while Julia Pellerin recorded a point for the second consecutive game and won three of four faceoffs.
Taylor Belchetz also kept UConn within reach throughout the afternoon, stopping 31 of St. Cloud State’s 35 shots for a season-high in saves.
The weekend sweep leaves UConn searching for its first win of the season. The Huskies will return to Connecticut for their home-opening series against Clarkson on Oct. 2 and 3 at the Toscano Family Ice Forum. The first game has a puck drop scheduled for 6 p.m.