UVM’s women’s ice hockey team made the trip south to Connecticut for a weekend set against the UConn Huskies.
The Catamounts, who went into the weekend having lost six consecutive games, were hopeful they might be able to capture their first win since Jan. 2nd against Saint Michael’s College, and their first conference win since defeating Merrimack College on Dec. 8th, 2023.
On Friday Jan. 26, the Huskies jumped out to an early 1-0 lead. With the power play on, Huskies forward Jada Habisch infiltrated Vermont’s defense and delivered the puck into the Vermont net just 11 minutes into the period.
The Huskies doubled their lead in the second period. Again on the power play and with three minutes left in the period, UConn defenseman Ava Rinker was able to find the back of the Vermont net after the puck deflected off the UVM defense.
Habisch added to her tally in the third period, putting UConn up by three and completing the scoring for the evening. After senior UVM goalie Jess Mchperson initially made a save, the puck deflected off the defense, and found its way into the net for Habisch’s second goal of the night.
The Huskies won the first game 3-0,and after play on Friday, Habisch led the Huskies with 14 goals on the season.
In the final game of a four game road trip that included two losses the previous weekend to Boston University, the Catamounts were determined to win the last match.
Saturday’s game centered around the defensive display put on by both teams. Huskies forward Ashley Allard had perhaps the best opportunity of the evening for either team to get on the scoreboard when she intercepted Vermont’s pass on the center of the ice, forcing a two-on-one rush for UConn.
Allard passed the puck across the crease hoping to assist Habisch, who uncoiled a shot toward the Vermont net that just missed the nearside post.
Vermont’s defense shined throughout the night. Graduate defenseman Sara Levesque made an especially crucial play when she prevented the Huskies from a breakaway opportunity with an outstanding back-check.
The score remained deadlocked throughout the three-on-three overtime period before the game went to a shootout. Despite UVM’s senior forward Natalie Mlynkova tying the shootout at 1-1, the Huskies prevailed on the back of Allard whose goal secured UConn an extra point.
The 0-0 tie against the No. 11 ranked Huskies was a major step forward for Vermont, whose losing streak was halted at seven games. The Catamounts, who entered the season ranked No. 12 nationally, fell to No. 7 in the Hockey East since their losing streak ensued in early January.
Vermont will return to the Gutterson Arena on Friday, and they’re eager to climb back into the win column against the last-place Holy Cross Crusaders.
