Women’s hockey pulls ahead of Union

Sophomore+forward+Eve-Audrey+Picard+takes+a+shot+on+goal+against+Union+College+Oct.+10.+Picard+set+a+new+varsity+single-game+scoring+record+with+four+goals%2C+as+the+Catamounts+won+7-0.

Ryan Kiel-Zabel

Sophomore forward Eve-Audrey Picard takes a shot on goal against Union College Oct. 10. Picard set a new varsity single-game scoring record with four goals, as the Catamounts won 7-0.

Steph Aurenz, Staff Writer

The women’s hockey team triumphed 7-0 over Union College Oct. 10.

UVM junior forward Eve-Audrey Picard broke the school record for most goals in a game, posting four goals Tuesday. UVM junior goalie Melissa Black had her first career shutout.

While the Catamounts came out strong in the first period, Union struggled, getting called for  interference midway through the period.

The Catamounts played a strong defensive game, with Black only having to make three saves. The Catamounts had nine shots on goal in the first period, one of which resulted in a goal scored by Picard and assisted by senior defender Taylor Willard.

“We focused on being smarter in the offensive zone,” head coach Jim Plumer said. “Getting off to a good start helps.”

The Catamounts took their coach’s words to heart, as the second period was full of offensive plays. Sophomore forward Allie Granato passed to first-year forward Olivia Kilberg for a goal four minutes into the half.

Another goal was scored two minutes later by junior forward Alyssa Gorecki, unassisted. Picard scored another goal off a pass from Gorecki to bring the score to 4-0 in favor of Vermont.

There were more shots on goal by junior Saana Valkama. With two minutes left in the period, sophomore forward Ali O’Leary received a pass from senior forward Mackenzie MacNeil and made the score 5-0.

The Catamounts had 26 shots on goal in this period compared to Union’s eight. It was a high intensity period with lots of offensive action.

Union made it obvious they did not want to go down without a fight. They took a hard shot at the beginning of the third period but Black deflected it.

The Catamounts focused on their passing more in the final period and managed to score two more goals. Five minutes in, Picard scored first with assists from Gorecki and Valkama.

First-year forward Kristina Shannon scored another with assistance from MacNeil and O’Leary.

Union gained a little steam midway through the third period to no avail.

“We are looking at this whole thing more like a marathon,” Plumer said. “We know it’s early, but we rebounded from a tough first game and to have two really good games in a row so we just want to put the next one in the bank as another good game”.

The next home game for women’s hockey is at 7 p.m. Friday against the University of New Hampshire.