It was a heartbreaking end to the game for Catamount women’s hockey on Friday night at Gutterson Fieldhouse.

The visiting New Hampshire Wildcats scored the tying goal with 12 seconds to go in regulation and the winner with 17 seconds remaining in overtime as they defeated the Catamounts 5-4.

UNH opened the scoring on the power play, as Julia Fedeski buried a rebound past junior goaltender Melissa Black to put the visitors up 1-0.

Vermont returned the favor halfway through the period, as junior forward Saana Valkama scored a power play goal of her own to tie the game.

UVM took the lead four minutes later. Junior defender Taylor Flaherty’s shot from the point beat Wildcats goaltender Ava Bouitilier to put the Catamounts ahead 2-1.

They doubled their lead early in the second, as first-year forward Kristina Shanahan converted on a breakaway to extend the lead to 3-1.

UNH did not give up, and scored 87 seconds later, as Devan Taylor scored on a shorthanded breakaway to cut the lead in half.

Vermont doubled their lead once more with just over one minute to go in the period, as sophomore forward Eve-Audrey Picard scored on a rebound.

New Hampshire cut the lead once more early in the third, as Marie-Jo Pelletier scored off a point shot to cut the lead to 4-3.

Late in the game, UNH pulled Boutilier for the extra attacker, and the gamble paid off.

An attempted clearance by UVM was intercepted by Meghara McManus, who made the Catamounts pay by scoring the tying goal with 12 seconds remaining to force overtime.

With 18 seconds to go in the extra period, Taylor broke free and buried a second breakaway goal past Black, and the Wildcats poured over the boards to celebrate.

Black finished the game with 30 saves, while Boutilier stopped 26.

“There was a number of opportunities to put the game away,” said head coach Jim Plumer.

Plumer put some of the collapse down to injuries and fatigue, as the Catamounts were missing senior forward Kourtney Menches and sophomore forward Ali O’Leary.

“The injuries have definitely taken a toll, we’re wearing out some of our top players, particularly the forwards,” he said. “I think one of the hardest things in hockey is the ability to execute when you’re tired, and that’s something we need to work on.”

Vermont fell to 2-4-0 on the season. The team will travel to North Andover, Massachusetts to take on Merrimack College in a doubleheader Oct. 27 and Oct. 28.