Box Score PROVIDENCE, R.I. – 11th ranked Vermont scored three third period goals and Jessie McPherson made 22 saves in her shutout of the season as the Catamounts defeated No. 13 Providence for the third time in seven days from Schneider Arena in Hockey East's Game of the Week on NESN. With the win Vermont improves to 16-7-1 this season while the Friars fall to 16-8-1.

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Box Score
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"Really, really gutsy win by our team tonight," Head Coach Jim Plumer said. "Providence was the better team for two periods and I'm proud of the way we hung in there and kept the game scoreless through two periods. Jessie McPherson was again outstanding, especially while we were finding our footing. Once we finally broke through in the third we started to play better and I'm so proud of the way that this team knows how to finish a game. We've got another huge test tomorrow at UConn and we are going to have to be able to play a full 60 minutes."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the first period McPherson made 10 saves as Providence came with an early push.
• Through two scoreless periods the Catamounts blocked 13 Providence shot attempts.
• Theresa Schafzahl broke the scoreless tie 4:31 into the third period. On the cycle Schafzahl and Natálie Mlýnková passed back and forth four times along the outside in the Providence zone. From the blue line Schafzahl fired a wrist shot that deflected off a PC defender's skate and fooled Providence's Sandra Abstreiter for her 15th goal of the season. Sini Karjalainen was credited with the secondary assist on the icebreaking tally.
• With 8:43 to go Lara Beecher doubled the Vermont advantage with a tremendous individual effort. On the forecheck Beecher poked the puck away from a PC defender and then from a sharp angle she fired a wrist shot just under the crossbar for her eighth goal of the season.
• With 1:01 to play Mlýnková put the contest out of reach with an empty-netter. In the neutral zone Schafzahl left the puck for Mlýnková to net her 15th goal of the season.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• In the last three games against Providence Jessie McPherson stopped 63 of the 64 shots she faced, good for a .984 save percentage.
• First year Lara Beecher has scored eight goals this season, four of them have come in the last three games against the Friars.
• After earning three points with tonight's regulation win the Catamounts remain in second place in Hockey East with a four-point cushion on the Friars.
• With today's 2-0 decision, Community Bank N.A. will donate $150 to Special Olympics Vermont. Community Bank, N.A. donates $75 per goal to Special Olympics Vermont for every goal the men's and women's team scores this season.
• With tonight's win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to King Street Youth Center, as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. Since the campaigns inauguration in 2017, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group has donated over $80,000 to local non-profits.

 
UP NEXT
The Catamounts travel to No. 15 UConn tomorrow afternoon for their fourth consecutive game against a ranked opponent. Faceoff at the brand new Toscano Family Ice Forum is set for 2 p.m.
 
Saturday's contest will air live on ESPN+. In Canada, the game will be available on TSN.ca and the TSN app. The game will also be available on a pay-per-view basis outside of North America at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/hockeyeast. Subscriptions to the service are available for $9.99 USD per month or $4.99 USD for individual games.
 
JOIN THE UVM ALUMNI ASSOCIATION HARTFORD AFFINITY GROUP IN STORRS
Alumni and families are welcome to join the UVM Alumni Association Harford Affinity group for a pregame gathering in Storrs, CT then head to watch the UVM vs. UConn game. Enjoy classic pub far and UVM fan gear on us. For more information and to register for the free event please visit
https://www.alumni.uvm.edu/s/1690/alumni/index.aspx?sid=1690&pgid=3974&gid=2&cid=9824&ecid=9824&post_id=0
 
JOIN US FOR UVM HOCKEY ALUMNAE WEEKEND JANUARY 20-21
Women's Hockey Alumnae are invited back to campus to reconnect with teammates and the current program!  Please visit go.uvm.edu/wihalum to register today!

Friday, January 20
6 p.m. - Pack the Gut presented by the Windjammer - Vermont v. Holy Cross

Saturday, January 21
11:45 a.m. - Alumnae Game (if enough interest)
12:45 p.m. - Family Skate
1:45 p.m. - Alumnae Reception
4 p.m. - Vermont v. Northeastern
 
The Windjammer Inn and Conference Center is the presenting sponsor of the UVM women's hockey program