NEW HAMPSHIRE SHUTS OUT VERMONT, 5-0
Sam Faber has two goals and an assist for Wildcats

DURHAM, N.H. – Sophomore forward linemates Sam Faber (Mt. Sinai, N.Y.) and Angela Taylor (Paisley, Scotland) both recorded three points to propel the third-ranked University of New Hampshire women’s hockey team to Saturday night’s 5-0 Hockey East victory against the University of Vermont at the Whittemore Center.

UNH, which has won all 13 meeting vs. UVM, improved to 14-2-1 overall and 6-1-0 in Hockey East. The Catamounts, now winless in eight games (0-6-2), is 2-12-2, 0-6-1.

Rookie goaltender Lucy Schoedel (Ithaca, N.Y.), in her third career start, recorded her second career shutout with five saves, three of which were in the third period. Faber finished with two goals and an assist while Taylor had one goal and two assists. Leah Craig (Seaforth, Ontario) was the other Wildcat with multiple points on a goal and an assist. UVM goalie Jenilee Roy recorded double digits in saves all three periods (18-18-13) to finish with 49.

Despite a dominating first period, UNH’s 19-2 shot advantage yielded only a 1-0 lead. Jennifer Hithcock (LaSalle, Ontario) extended her goal-scoring streak to five games when she scored off her own rebound in front for a power-play tally at 10:04. Kacey Bellamy (Westfield, Mass.), with the initial shot from the high slot, and Craig were credited with assists. Bellamy now has an assist in six consecutive games and has tied the team’s season-best point-scoring streak of eight games.

The Wildcats’ 21-0 second-period shot advantage produced three goals to extend the lead to 4-0. Faber opened the stanza’s scoring at 1:30 when she maneuvered from the right circle to the slot and lifted a shot into the net. Taylor won a battle for the puck in the right corner to set up the goal.

Craig and Faber scored 75 seconds apart – at 15:19 and 16:34, respectively – to quickly double the lead. Craig, positioned in front of the net, capitalized on a centering pass from Micaela Long (South Boston, Mass.) behind the net; Steph Holmes (Rye, N.Y.) initiated the sequence with a pass from the left boards to Long. Faber then tipped in Taylor’s shot to give the ‘Cats a 4-0 advantage. Kelly Paton (Woodstock, Vt.) also assisted on the play.

Taylor capped the scoring with a power-play goal at 12:49 of the third period when she collected Faber’s pass in the slot and lifted a shot into the upper-right corner.

UNH went 2-for-7 on the power play to mark the first time in eight games that the ‘Cats netted multiple power-play goals in a game.

The Wildcats recorded a season-high 54 shots while surrendering a season-low five shots. The previous high was 51 vs. Northeastern University (Nov. 17) and the low had been seven (twice; vs. Niagara University in the season opener and vs. Brown on Oct. 20).

New Hampshire closes out the 2006 calendar year next weekend against regional rivals from the ECAC with a road game against Harvard University (Dec. 8; 7 p.m.) and a home game vs. Dartmouth College (Dec. 10; 2 p.m.). There will be a dedication ceremony for the Russell J. McCurdy Gallery prior to the game vs. DC.