Final Score: Vermont 3, Merrimack 3
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Vermont (8-23-3, 6-15-3) scored three early first period goals but Merrimack (5-26-3, 3-18-3) came from behind to earn a tie in the regular season finale for both teams Saturday afternoon from Lawler Arena.
 
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After a slow start last night, the Catamounts fired out of the gate Saturday afternoon. Vermont opened the scoring 2:52 into the opening frame as Victoria Andreakos picked up her fifth goal of the season. Taylor Willard fired a wrist shot from the point and Andreakos redirected it past Merrimack's Samantha Ridgewell to give UVM an early edge.
 
Just 53 seconds later Vermont struck again to double its advantage with another even strength tally. Saana Valkama passed the puck out in front of the Merrimack net to Alyssa Gorecki who was able to get a shot off through a Merrimack defender that Ridgewell padded aside. Valkama pounced on the rebound and put it home for her fifth of the season at the 3:45 mark of the first.    
 
Vermont stretched its lead to three with a near carbon copy of the Catamounts' first goal. This time Gina Repaci fired a slap shot from the point that Dayna Colang deflected past Ridgewell for her team-leading 12^th goal of the year. Colang's 96^th career point came 6:27 into the opening frame.
 
The Warriors were able to cut into the deficit with a power play goal in the dying seconds of the opening frame. Dominique Kremer found the back of the net with six seconds left on Merrimack's second shot of the game. Kremer's point shot after a feed from Madison Morey deflected off a Vermont defender and past Vermont's Madison Litchfield.
 
Merrimack struck again 3:02 into the second period to cut Vermont's lead to one. Baye Flanagan cleared the puck out of the Merrimack zone and Katelyn Rae beat a pair of Vermont defenders to the puck before skating in alone on Litchfield. Rae faked right and then went left before sliding the puck in for her eighth goal of the season.
 
The Warriors pushed hard for the game-tying goal in the third period outshooting the Catamounts 14-9. With Ridgewell pulled for the extra-attacker the Warriors were rewarded with 61 seconds left in regulation. Amidst of maze of bodies in front of the crease Annie Boeckers gathered the puck and found the back of the net for her second goal of the season.
 
The Catamounts needed to win in overtime in order to remain in the hunt for the five-seed in the Hockey East Quarterfinals. Vermont outshot Merrimack 4-1 in overtime but were unable to capitalize. Vermont will be the six-seed in the Hockey East playoffs.
 
"What a disappointing ending to a game that got off to a great start," said head coach Jim Plumer. "Credit to Merrimack and their goalie for withstanding some of our best offensive pressure of the year, particularly in the second period. It's on to Boston University now."
 
Vermont returns to action next weekend at Boston University in the Hockey East Quarterfinals. The Catamounts will open the best-of-three series Friday February 26 at 7 p.m. Game two is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Saturday. If necessary, the teams will play game three at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

NOTES: Dayna Colang tied the Vermont women's hockey record for games played with 137 this afternoon ... Brittany Zuback and Dayna hold the record, and are also second and third all-time in career scoring at UVM with 97 and 96 points.