Hawkins and Thibault Lead Connecticut Past Maine, 5-4

Jaclyn Hawkins tallied a goal and three assists

STORRS, Conn. - Jaclyn Hawkins (Manotick, Ont.) and Dominique Thibault (L'Orginal, Ont.) both recorded four points to lead the No. 8/8 University of Connecticut women's ice hockey team past Maine 5-4 on Sunday afternoon in the Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum.

With the win, the Huskies improve to 22-5-5 overall and 13-3-3 in the Hockey East. Maine falls to 4-25-3 overall and 3-13-3 in the league after today's loss.

UConn struck first in the opening period of play as Cristin Allen (Pickering, Ont.) recorded her fourth goal of the season as she fired a shot in front of the blue line and through the Maine defense to put the Huskies up 1-0 at the 5:39 mark. Thibault recorded the assist on the play, as she found Allen for the first score of the game. The assist marked her 22nd of the season.

Maine reacted to the Huskies' score with a goal of their own at 10:01 in the first period as Pam Patterson tied the game at one.

In the second period of play, the Huskies out shot the Black Bears 17-8 and recorded three goals, including two power-play connections.

Thibault began the second period, wasting no time, and scored less than a minute into play. Her team-leading 23rd goal of the season came off of passes from Allen and Hawkins.

Maine was able to tie the game again at two with Jordan Colliton's third goal of the year at 4:35 in the second before UConn freshman Jennifer Chaisson (Cumberland, Ont.) recorded two straight goals to extend the Huskies' lead to 4-2. Chaisson's first power play goal of the day came at the 12:36 mark in the second period off stellar passes from Hawkins and senior Bridget King (Paxton, Mass.). Her second goal came two minutes later as she received a pass from both Hawkins and Thibault and fired the puck into the back of the net.

Maine added their third goal of the game with a netter by Robyn Law. Hawkins added her goal of the game at the 9:16 mark in the third period to put the Huskies up 5-3. Hawkins goal was assisted by Thibault, who picked up her third assist of the game, and senior Liz Gallinaro (Amherst, Mass.).

Maine closed the game within one after they pulled their goalie with almost a minute left in the game. The extra-man goal put the Black Bears to within one at 5-4 but Maine could not connect to tie the score and the game ended in UConn's favor.

Wilson finished the afternoon with 26 saves for the Huskies while Maine goaltender Sarah Bishop picked up 22 saves for the Black Bears.

UConn will return to action on Saturday, March 1 as the Huskies travel to Durham, N.H. to face No. 2/2 University of New Hampshire in Hockey East play. Saturday's meeting will be the first of a two-game weekend series to finish out the regular season for both programs.