FINAL SCORE: UConn 6, Vermont 5
STORRS, Conn. – Tristan Fraser scored 4:14 into overtime to lift UConn (5-3-1) to a wild 6-5 win over Vermont (1-4-2) in Hockey East action from the Toscano Family Ice Forum Sunday afternoon.

RELATED LINKS
Box Score
Highlights
Photo Gallery
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"We pushed, we didn't quit," said Head Coach Steve Wiedler. "But our defensive intensity has to get cranked up. It's habits, it's details. I'm encouraged about how we created offense tonight and never gave up. But out defensive intensity didn't meet the standard."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Catamounts opened the scoring just 2:03 into the contest. UConn goaltender Tyler Muszelik played the puck behind the net right to Mateo Dixon on the forecheck. Dixon centered the puck immediately and Isak Walther tapped it home into the empty net.
• Just 22 seconds later Vermont struck again. From behind the net Thomas Sinclair centered a feed and Will Zapernick fired on the UConn net. Muszelik made an initial save but crashing the net Daniel Sambuco picked up the rebound and stashed it home for his first goal of the season.
• UConn's Ethan Gardula scored twice in 3:20 midway through the opening period to nullify the early Vermont lead.
• The Huskies took their first lead of the contest with 4:40 to play in the opening frame on the power play. In the slot Jake Richard was bearing down on UVM's Axel Mangbo, as the UVM defense turned their attention to Richard he fed a backdoor pass to an open Kaden Shahn who one-timed it home for his third goal of the season. It was the first five-on-four power play goal against UVM has allowed this year.
• Vermont tied things up with a power play goal of their own 7:41 into the second period. Massimo Lombardi won a draw cleanly to start the UVM attack. Colin Kessler centered the puck along the boards, and it came to Blake Steenerson in front. He tapped it to Lombardi who one-timed it on net. Muszelik made the initial save but Steenerson tapped home the rebound for his second goal of the season. The UVM man-advantage struck in 10 seconds off the faceoff win.
• UConn reestablished its lead 1:38 into the third period. On the forecheck a fortuitous bounce came to Ethan Whitcomb and he skated in alone on Mangbo and beat him with a backhand along the ice.
• At the 6:51 mark Lombardi tied things at four apiece. Joel Määttä won an offensive draw cleanly back to Lombardi. He skated into the slot and fired a wrist shot under Muszelik's arm for his third goal of the season.
• The Huskies retook lead with 6:32 to play with their fourth shorthanded goal of the season. Tabor Heaslip took advantage of a UVM turnover at the blueline and broke in alone on Mangbo. He fired a quick shot just under the bar for his third goal of the season.
• With 1:19 to play and the Catamounts looking for the equalizer UConn's Viking Gustafsson Nyberg hit Lombardi with a dangerous knee-on-knee hit in the neutral zone. Gustafsson Nyberg was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for the reckless play.
• With .3 seconds left on the clock UVM was able to tie things up with the six-on-four advantage. To the right of Muszelik three Catamounts and Huskies battled for a loose puck. Steenerson was able to poke it free and center the puck to Kessler all alone in front. He tucked home his team-leading fourth goal of the season just in time to force three-on-three OT for the fourth straight contest for UVM.
• On a two-on-two rush in overtime UConn's Fraser ended the night with a wrist shot through traffic that trickled home for his first goal of the season.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• This evening was first year Colin Kessler's third multi-point game of his career. He is tied for the team lead in scoring with seven points. He holds the team lead in goals with four.
• Eight of Vermont's 19 goals this season have come from members of the first year class.
• Tonight was Vermont's first five-goal game in a league contest since topping Northeastern 5-4 on January 12.
• With tonight's 6-5 decision, Community Bank N.A. will donate $375 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.

UP NEXT
The Catamounts return home next weekend to host No. 17 UMass in a two-game series. On Friday, November 8 the teams will faceoff at 7 p.m. on Military Appreciation Night presented by Milton CAT. Collins Aerospace will be giving away hockey pucks, totes for groceries and hats. Saturday's contest is also at 7 p.m. and it will be the annual TD Bank Teddy Bear Toss. Fans are encouraged to bring in NEW stuffed animals to toss onto the ice in between the first period to benefit the King Street Center.
 
Both games will air live on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan on the call. As always, the games will also be broadcast live on WVMT (96.3 FM/620 AM) with the voice of the Catamounts Adam Lafleur in the Handy Toyota Broadcast Booth.
 
For news and updates about the Vermont men's hockey program, follow @UVMmhockey on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com.
 
Handy Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the UVM men's hockey program