BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Catamounts scored two goals in the first eight minutes of the first period and controlled play throughout the contest in a 4-1 non-conference win over Union Saturday night from Gutterson Fieldhouse. With the win, the Catamounts improved to 5-7-1 overall and the Garnet Chargers fell to 8-8-0.
COACH'S QUOTE
"Proud of our group today," Head Coach Steve Wiedler said. "This morning we talked about our process to winning, having pride in our logo and defending the Gut. Our guys did that for 60 minutes tonight. They deserve a ton of credit for their resolve and fight tonight."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Daniel Sambuco opened the scoring for the Catamounts 3:16 into the first period with his first career goal. Mateo Dixon tapped the puck with one hand to Thomas Sinclair who one-timed a shot on Union's Joe Sharib. Sharib made the initial save but Sambuco was on the doorstep to tap it home. Dixon's primary assist was also his first career point.
- Ryan Miotto doubled the Catamounts advantage at the 7:20 mark of the first. The Catamounts forecheck behind the Union net forced a turnover along the boards. Jack Malinski pinched from the point and directed the puck towards Miotto who blew a one-timer past Sharib for his third of the season.
- Jack Malinski picked up his first career goal 4:34 into the third period to add another insurance marker for the Catamounts. Jens Richards shot wide of the net but Timofei Spitserov was first to the puck. From behind the net he fed a pinching Malinski for a one-timer that Sharib had no chance on.
- Union's Nick Young scored shorthanded for the Garnet Chargers with 4:56 left in regulation. His first goal of the season was assisted by Ben Tupker and John Prokop.
- Jérémie Bucheler iced the game for the Catamounts with an empty-net goal with 2:17 left in regulation. Seconds after Union pulled Sharib for an extra-attacker Bucheler found the back of the net from 175 feet out for his fourth goal of the season.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Catamounts 16 first period shots was their highest total in a single period this season.
- Nick Ahern led all skaters with nine shots tonight. His nine shots are the most by a Catamount in a single game this year.
- With tonight's 4-1 decision, Community Bank N.A. will donate $300 to Special Olympics Vermont. Community Bank, N.A. donates $75 per goal to Special Olympics Vermont for every goal the men's and women's team scores this season.
- With the win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to King Street Center as part of the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative. Since its inauguration in 2017, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group has donated over $80,000 to local non-profits through the Cats Win, Community Wins initiative.
UP NEXT
The Catamounts hit the road next weekend for the final action of the first semester. UVM will head to Long Island to face LIU for the first time in program history. The teams will faceoff Saturday, December 16 and 7 p.m. and then again on Sunday, December 17 at 2 p.m. from the Northwell Health Ice Center. Both games will air regionally on SNY while they will also be simulcast on ESPN+. As always, Adam Lafleur will call the action on WVMT from the Handy Toyota Broadcast Booth.
