Final Score: Vermont 2, New Hampshire 1
DURHAM, N.H. – Sophomore defenseman
Taylor Willard scored the game-winning goal with 1:12 left in the third period to send Vermont (7-21-2, 5-13-2 HEA) to a 2-1 win against New Hampshire (10-18-1, 7-12-0 HEA) Friday night in Hockey East action from the Whittemore Center.
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Box Score
HighlightsNew Hampshire opened the scoring 2:41 into the first period as Sara Carlson tallied her fourth goal of the season to give the Wildcats an early edge. Carlson kept the puck in at the point and skated around the Vermont zone before stepping into the slot and firing a wrist shot past Vermont's
Madison Litchfield. Margo Lund and Julia Fedeski were credited with assists on the even strength goal.
The Catamounts answered back 52 seconds later as freshman forward
Saana Valkama equalized at the 3:33 mark of the first period.
Bridget Baker won an offensive zone faceoff back to Willard and she fired a puck towards New Hampshire's Kyra Smith. The shot deflected off a UNH defender and
Sarah Kelly before Valkama tapped it home for her fourth goal of the year.
Following the game-tying goal Litchfield was perfect in the Vermont net-making 14 of her 30 saves in the first period alone. After tonight's game Litchfield is 5
th in Hockey East with a 2.58 goals-against average in league play.
Litchfield's goaltending set the stage for Willard's late game heroics.
Rachael Ade forced a turnover along the Vermont blue line and skated in alone on mini-breakaway. Ade made a move to her backhand and was stopped by Smith, but
Dayna Colang was able to poke the rebound out to the point. At the point Willard stepped into a slapshot and buried her eighth goal of the season and her second game-winner of the year.
"I'm really proud of this group," said head coach
Jim Plumer. "We came back from another deficit and showed some real character and heart.
Madison Litchfield was excellent tonight and
Taylor Willard was immense for us all night. It was appropriate that she got the game-winner."
Vermont and New Hampshire close out their season series tomorrow afternoon with puck drop set for 4 p.m. at the Whittemore Center in Durham. Fans can watch all the action with live streaming ($) at UNHWildcats.TV.
NOTES: The game was delayed 40 minutes due to lighting issues at the Whittemore Center … The Catamounts are now 5-4-2 against the Wildcats under Coach Plumer.
