The UVM Women’s team had a fantastic weekend all around, as they swept the two-game series at Gutterson Field House against the Holy Cross Crusaders. Everything that the team lacked two weekends ago against UNH finally came to light, including a power play unit that scored three times during the weekend meeting. Their penalty kill also remained perfect and is currently ranked first in the NCAA.
The Catamounts racked up 10 goals this weekend, with all being netted from eight different goal scorers. As well, 13 players recorded at least one point throughout the weekend sweep. Let’s now take a deeper dive into how Vermont improved to 3-1 on the season.
Jessie McPherson Leads UVM To Victory
Once again, the Catamounts would win game one of the series, as they did two weekends ago against the New Hampshire Wildcats. Vermont would break open up the scoring just with just four minutes left in the opening period, as Olivia Kilberg would net the puck up close to give UVM a 1-0 lead. The power play unit, which went 0-10 in their last series, would end up scoring on their second opportunity, as Junior Elice Murphy would score, having done so from the point for her first career goal.
“To get the special teams going today, to get the power play going today, and keep the penalty kill 100 percent is important, but certainly, we’re not gonna have success if we take seven penalties a game,” Coach Plumer said after the game. Kristina Shanahan would add a goal early in the second for UVM and Corrine McCool would complete the scoring with a highlight reel spin-o-Rama for her first tally of the season.
Jessie McPherson would end up getting the 14-save shutout in her first career start for the UVM Catamounts. As such, the backstop was acknowledged as Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week. Speaking in his post-game press conference, coach Plumer mentioned how happy he was for both Jessie McPherson and defensemen Elice Murphy. “Great to see Jess McPherson get a shutout in her first game, Elice Murphy her first goal after two years,” he said.
With the win, Friday was just the second time as Division I programs that UVM Men’s Hockey and UVM Women’s Hockey posted a shutout within the same day. On February 13th, 2004, the men won 2-0 at Clarkson, meanwhile, the women won 4-0 hosting Union.
Scoring Aplenty As UVM Finishes Off Weekend Sweep
If there was any doubt that the quick turnaround would hurt Vermont, those were erased 30 seconds into the game, as Olivia Kilberg would once again open up the scoring as she found a loose puck out in front of the net. UVM would continue to carry the momentum through the first until Holy Cross started piling up shots on Blanka Skodova in the latter part of the opening frame. Despite a disappointing middle frame on Friday, which coach Plumer mentioned to the media following the game, Vermont would score two in the middle frame on Saturday, as Hailey Burns and Corrine McCool would end up scoring.
The Catamounts would tack on two more in the first three minutes of the game’s third period, as Alyssa Holmes and Sara Levesque would both end up finding the back of the net. Leveque’s goal would be scored on the power play, while also the first of her collegiate career. Blanka Skodova made 15 saves on 16 shots, as she lost the shutout midway through the third period.
Anna Erickson would respond less than a minute later, as she would pick up her third point of the weekend. Maude Poulin-Labelle would also pick up three assists in the 6-1 victory for UVM. With the win, Vermont joins Boston University as the only other school in the country to have all three goalies record at least one win this season.
UVM will take their first road trip of the season, as they travel to Connecticut to play two games against the Huskies. It all begins Friday at 6:00pm, followed by a 3:00pm rematch on Saturday afternoon.