FINAL SCORE: Merrimack 4, Vermont 2
BURLINGTON, Vt. –  In the annual Rally Against Cancer game, freshmen Olivia Kilberg and Kristina Shanahan scored for the Catamounts, but the Merrimack Warriors scored two power play goals and added another pair to take a 4-2 win over the Catamounts. Otter Creek Awnings and Vermont Custom Closets are the presenting sponsors of the 2017-18 Rally Against Cancer games, and all proceeds supported the University of Vermont Cancer Center.
 
Vermont falls to 9-17-4 overall and 6-12-3 in Hockey East play while Merrimack improves to 11-17-3 overall and 6-13-2 in conference play.
 
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"Merrimack deserves all the credit for their win today," head coach Jim Plumer said. "They brought their A game and we weren't as sharp as we have been over the past month. Hockey East is a battle and we will have to be ready for two huge games against UConn next weekend."
 
Paige Voight put Merrimack up 1-0 less than six minutes into the contest with a bar-down goal over the left shoulder of Sydney Scobee. Voight carried the puck into the Catamount zone to Scobee's left and ripped a shot to the top corner over the goalie's glove.
 
The Warriors doubled their lead 13:45 into the period on the power play with a goal from Katelyn Rae. Defenseman Dominique Kremer fired a shot from the blue line and Rae managed to tip the puck in the slot under Scobee's pads.
 
Merrimack held a 12-8 advantage in shots through the first period and Samantha Ridgewell stopped all eight shots faced.
 
Vermont could not capitalize on its first power play chance just 15 seconds into the middle frame after Felila Manu was called for interference.
 
However, immediately following the end of the advantage, Kilberg blocked a blue line shot and got behind the defense for a breakaway. She came straight down on Ridgewell and hammered the puck five-hole from the low-slot to cut into the Warrior lead.
 
Merrimack had an extended power play chance, including 22 seconds of 5-on-3 play that resulted in its second power play goal of the afternoon. Paige Sorenson fired a shot from the top of the circle to Scobee's left through traffic for the goal.
 
Vermont entered the second intermission trailing 3-1 despite outshooting the Warriors 12-7 in the middle frame. Scobee tallied 16 saves compared to Ridgewell's 19 stops through 40 minutes.
 
A pair of penalties called against each team led to multiple power plays and 4-on-4 stretches in the first half of the final period with neither team finding the back of the net.
 
Shanahan scored her fourth of the season with 6:43 remaining to cut the Merrimack lead to one. She picked up a pass from Kourtney Menches at the hash marks before spinning and slotting the puck top shelf over Ridgewell.
 
The Catamounts had multiple chances in the final minutes of the game and called their timeout with 2:13 remaining. After a minute of sustained pressure with an extra attacker that forced a Merrimack icing, the Warriors called their timeout with 1:05 left on the clock.
 
Mikyla Grant-Mentis added an empty net goal that went the length of the ice to seal the Warrior win with 20 seconds remaining.
 
Game-worn Rally Against Cancer uniforms are open to bids and purchase at uvmathletics.com/auctions through 7 p.m. on Thursday (Feb. 8). Additionally, UVM teamed with the Headway Foundation to participate in the 2018 Concussion Awareness Weekend. All proceeds from the CAW went to support the New Tough Concussion Awareness Campaign.
 
The Cats return to the ice at Gutterson Fieldhouse next Friday, Feb. 9 in the 2018 Pack the Gut game to benefit Meals on Wheels. All tickets are only $2 as Vermont tries to break the Hockey East attendance record of 2,136 fans, which was set at last year's Pack the Gut game. The first 500 fans in attendance will receive either a Pack the Gut shirt or a This Is Vermont scarf.
 
The Windjammer and Upper Deck Pub is the presenting sponsor of the 2017-18 women's hockey season