FINAL SCORE (OT): New Hampshire 5, Vermont 4
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Meghara McManus' unassisted goal with 12 seconds left in regulation forced overtime, and Devan Taylor won the game with 18 seconds left in the extra session for New Hampshire by the final of 5-4 in a Hockey East matchup Friday night at Gutterson Fieldhouse.
 
Melissa Black stopped 30 shots for the Catamounts, who move to 2-4-0 (1-2-0 WHEA), while Taylor's game-winning goal in overtime pushed the Wildcats to 3-0-1 (2-0-1 WHEA) on the season.
 
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"That was a very disappointing outcome to a game that we had under our control," said head coach Jim Plumer. "Credit to UNH for battling to the end and I hope that this serves as a good lesson for our team as we learn how to finish."

Both teams jumped out of the gates, exchanging scoring chances in the first minutes of the game. UNH had the first opportunity on the power play when Nicole Dunbar picked up a rebound and flipped a shot off the post.
 
The Catamounts returned the opportunity as Mackenzie MacNeill skated out of the defensive zone and neared the UNH goal where she turned to her backhand and snapped a shot that also rang off the post at 1:20 in the opening period.
 
New Hampshire opened the scoring 17 seconds later on the power play on a goal by Julia Fedeski. Wildcats defender Tori Howran fired a shot that was stopped by Black, but Fedeski batted the rebound into the back of the net. McManus also assisted on the goal.
 
Before the midway point of the first period, Saana Valkama equalized on the power play for the Catamounts. Setting up at the top of the offensive zone, Taylor Flaherty dished a pass to Kristina Shanahan on the half-wall before finding Valkama in the slot. Valkama fought off two defenders and turned to fire a wrist shot past Ava Boutilier (26 saves).
 
Minutes later, Flaherty converted on the power play to give Vermont its first lead of the game. Ève-Audrey Picard wired a pass across the offensive zone to Shanahan in her spot on the half boards. Shanahan feathered a pass to Flaherty, who collected the puck and wristed a shot through traffic to give UVM a 2-1 lead at the first intermission.
 
Shanahan continued Vermont's scoring in the second period on an unassisted goal at 3:19 of the middle frame. Intercepting a pass in the defensive zone, Shanahan raced up ice and cut into the high slot before ripping a shot against the grain past a sliding Boutilier.
 
UNH answered on a shorthanded goal by Taylor 1:27 after the Catamounts' goal. Kate Haslett found Taylor, who broke up ice and tucked a shot around the pads of Black.
 
With 1:10 left in the middle period, Picard restored Vermont's two-goal lead after batting a puck out of the air past UNH's goaltender. Valkama delivered the pass to Picard and Alyssa Gorecki also assisted on the score.
 
The Wildcats began their comeback in the early minutes of the third period on a goal by Marie-Jo Pelletier. McManus glided across the blue line and dropped a pass to Pelletier, who wristed a shot through traffic and found the top corner.
 
New Hampshire continued to charge throughout the final period, pulling the goalie with 1:21 left in regulation. McManus caught a UVM clearing attempt before quickly shifting the puck to her stick and snapping a shot past Black to force overtime at 19:48.
 
Both teams had opportunities to clinch in the overtime period, but it was Taylor who secured the win for UNH by tucking a low shot under the pads of Black on a partial breakaway in the final 30 seconds. 
 
The Catamounts return to action on Sunday (Oct. 22) as they face third-ranked Boston College for the first time since falling in double overtime in last season's Hockey East Semifinal. Puck drop is set for 2 p.m. at Gutterson Fieldhouse. 
 
Windjammer and Upper Deck Pub is the presenting sponsor of the 2017-18 women's hockey season