UConn women earn first Hockey East victory

BOSTON - The UConn women’s ice hockey team earned its first shootout Hockey East victory at Boston University on Saturday after a 1-1 tie in overtime.

Sophomore Monique Weber tied the game in the third period at Walter Brown Arena while senior captain Amy Hollstein scored the lone goal in a three-round shootout for the Huskies conference win.

With the win, the Huskies sweep the weekend series against BU, having won the night before, 4-3, over the 10th-ranked Terriers at Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum.

In the Saturday match [Dec. 5, 2009] played in Boston, Laurel Koller opened scoring for BU with her second goal of the season assisted by Shannon Majoney at 14:14 in the first period.

The Terriers had a distinct advantage in shots on goal after the first 20 minutes of play (10-5), forcing sophomore Alexandra Garcia to stop nine shots.

UConn (8-5-4, 2-4-3-1) pressured the Terrier defense and net-minder Melissa Haber in the second period. Junior Brittany Murphy and freshman Elisabeth Stathopulos from Toronto each had of pair of scoring opportunities while Weber recorded four shots on goal.

Entering the final period of regulation still down by a goal, UConn’s defense limited Boston University’s offensive opportunities as the Huskies consistently searched for the equalizer.

Freshman Kelly Horan from nearby Methuen, Mass. and sophomore Sami Evelyn had the assists on Weber’s game-tying goal with less than eight minutes remaining in the third period.

For the fourth time this season, the Huskies entered overtime against a Hockey East opponent and despite the Terriers (7-6-7, 4-4-2-2) garnering more scoring opportunities in the extra session, Garcia stopped each shot to force a shootout.

Hollstein scored in the first round of the shootout and Garcia turned aside each of Boston University attempts to secure the conference victory.

In total, Garcia (5-4-4) made 29 saves to match her career-high effort.

Haber (7-5-5) finished the night with 31 saves, including 14 in the third period.

In the Friday contest played at Storrs [Dec. 4],  Evelyn scored the first of her two goals on the power-play while last year’s leader in power-play goals, senior assistant captain Michelle Binning, scored her seventh of the season against the Terriers.

Both of Evelyn’s goals were part of a four-goal rally in the second and third periods by the Huskies overcoming an early deficit in the game.

Jenelle Kohanchuk scored a mere 22 seconds into the second period to give the Terriers a 2-0 edge before junior Jennifer Chaisson assisted her first of two goals at 5:33.

Horan scored her second of the year with the help of Chaisson to bring UConn within one goal of Boston University (2-1).

Chaisson set up Evelyn’s power-play goal that tied the game (2-2) at 12:31.

The tide turned in favor of the Huskies as they out-shot the Terriers 14-5 in the second period searching for the go-ahead goal that came with less than five minutes remaining in the second.

Binning scored with an assist from Horan, it marked the second-consecutive UConn power-play goal of the night.

The Huskies entered the final intermission with a 3-2 advantage while a late UConn penalty placed the Terriers on the power play to start the third.

UConn thwarted any Boston University attempts, holding the Terriers 0-for-4 on the power play.

Senior assistant captain Cristin Allen recorded her team-best 10th assist on Evelyn’s second mark of the night. Just under the two-minute mark of the third period, the sophomore defender gave the Huskies a lead they would not relinquish.

Video clip by Vito J. Leo - UConn Women’s Ice Hockey Team Celebrates Win over BU - Dec. 5, 2009

Posted Dec. 11, 2009