It was the first game for UVM in just over a month, yet there was no sign of rust from the Catamounts on Friday night. During Thursday’s media availability, head coach Jim Plumer wasn’t exactly sure how ready they would be for for their Friday night contest. On Friday, the team broke out and got on the board early, as forward Tynka Patkova would score her first collegiate goal for the Catamounts.
Maddy Skelton and Theresa Schafzahl would also find the back of the net, as Jessie McPherson completed her third shutout, making 22 saves in the 3-0 win.
Sunday’s game would start the same way, as Theresa Schafzahl would go top-shelf to give UVM another lead less than five minutes following the opening face-off. However, things wouldn’t go Vermont’s way as the game progressed the rest of the way. The Terriers would open the scoring early in the second on a goal from McKenna Parker that Jessie McPherson could only wish she had back.
Boston took the lead later in the period on a goal from Jesse Compher before Nara Elia would score on a third period power play. That would make it a two-goal deficit. Goaltender Jessie McPherson made 23 saves in the losing effort. Let’s now take a look at my three stars from the weekend series.
Theresa Schafzahl
One of the big names offensively this season has been forward Theresa Schafzahl. The Austria native got off to a slow start, but has been on a tear since the new calendar year. All eight of her points have come in 2021, and this weekend, she extended her goal streak to three games with a goal in each game this weekend and extends her point streak to six games.
UVM needed someone to emerge as the offensive leader and Schafzahl has been that for the Catamounts. With only one more weekend left in the season, I expect the left-handed shooter to one of the biggest factors heading into the playoffs.
Jessie McPherson
When the 2021 season got started, UVM had three solid goaltenders and it was expected that we’d see the three of them rotate. However, Jessie McPherson has stolen the starting job, as she’s started the last four games for the Catamounts. She had her worst game on Sunday, where she gave up three goals on 26 shots.
Her numbers overall have been in the top two in all Hockey East goaltending categories. Head Coach Jim Plumer had a lot of praise for the Freshmen goaltender, as he said during Thursday’s media availability, “Big boost, the team has a lot of confidence playing in front of her, it’s kinda a storybook beginning with two shutouts to start her career.”
Ellice Murphy
The Roseau, Minnesota native had a huge weekend defensively, as the defender blocked six shots in the Friday night win for the UVM Catamounts. Since picking up her first career goal, Murphy has played very well and was rewarded in loss on Saturday, where she picked up her second assist on the goal from Schafzahl. We haven’t seen much from some of the bigger names on defence this year such as Sini Karjalainen, however, Murphy has picked up the slack.
They always talk about players who don’t show up on the box score, but make a difference and that’s what the junior blue-liner brings to the lineup for the UVM Catamounts. Expect Murphy to continue her strong play, as Vermont heads into their last week of the season.