STORRS, Conn. – 15th ranked UConn scored twice in the opening 2:11 Saturday afternoon as the Huskies handed Vermont its first loss of 2023 4-1 from the brand new Toscano Family Ice Forum in Hockey East action. With the loss Vermont falls to 16-7-1 on the season while the Huskies improved to 15-8-2.

RELATED LINKS
Box Score
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"UConn really deserves all the credit in this one," Head Coach Jim Plumer said. "They didn't allow us to establish our puck possession game and it showed all over the ice. We are in the stretch run if the season now and we have to be ready and focused at the drop of the puck for every game. Their fast start in the first two minutes gave them momentum that it was tough to overcome. I'm proud of the way we battled to the end and we will refocus on being ready for two big battles next weekend."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Huskies opened the scoring 18 seconds into the contest. On a broke play in the neutral zone Kate Thurman chipped the puck off the glass and was the first to the puck. With a two-on-one skater advantage down low Thurman found some space along the post to beat Jessie McPherson to the short side for her fifth goal of the season.
• UConn doubled its advantage just under two minutes later on a breakaway. Megan Woodworth made a move and then beat McPherson to the far post for her third goal of the season.
• In the second period the Huskies added to their lead with a power play marker on the first called penalty of the game. From behind the net Brooke Campbell centered a feed to Camryn Wong. Wong was checked on the play by a Vermont defender but she got enough on the puck for it squeeze past McPherson as she pushed off from the near post. Wong's third of year came 5:58 into the middle frame.
• Vermont got one back 2:27 into the final frame as Alaina Tanski scored her first career goal shorthanded. Sara Levesque fired a UConn turnover off the boards and up to Tanski and she broke in alone on UConn's Tia Chan. Cutting down the wing Tanski beat Chan with a quick shot through her legs.
• Christina Walker scored an empty-netter with 2:13 left in regulation to seal the UConn win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE                                                                          

• With today's 4-1 decision, Community Bank N.A. will donate $75 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.
• Alaina Tanski scored Vermont's third shorthanded goal of the season in the third period. Theresa Schafzahl and Natálie Mlýnková have the other two this season for Vermont.

 
UP NEXT
The Catamounts return home next weekend for their annual Pack the Gut Challenge presented by the Windjammer. UVM will host Holy Cross at 6 p.m. on January 20 as they try to reset their own Hockey East record for on-campus attendance.
 
Friday's contest will air live on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan on the call. 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 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 vs. 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 vs. Northeastern
 
The Windjammer Inn and Conference Center is the presenting sponsor of the UVM women's hockey program