STORRS, Conn. (Oct. 6, 2007) - The University of Connecticut women's ice hockey team upset the No. 10 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, 5-2, on Saturday night in the Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum.
The Huskies jumped to an early lead in the first period with a power play goal by sophomore Michelle Binning (Oshawa, Ont.). Sophomore Amy Hollstein (Pembroke, Mass.) won the face-off as the puck was directed towards two Husky jerseys. Sophomore Cristin Allen (Pickering, Ont.) fired a shot towards the goal as Binning got her stick on the puck and forced it into the back of the net.
UConn connected on another power play goal in the second period as senior co-captain Jaclyn Hawkins (Manotick, Ont.) sliced her way through the Buckeye defense for her 56th career goal and first of the season. Nicole Tritter (Toronto, Ont.) and Dominique Thibault (L'Orignal, Ont.) assisted on Hawkins goal, marking the first assist, for both Huskies, this season.
Less than 10 minutes later in the second period, Binning intercepted a pass from Ohio State's defense then drew the defenders in as she skated around the net before passing to Allen. Allen found the back of the net at 14:28 with her first goal of the season to give the Huskies a 3-0 lead. But the Huskies didn't stop there as Hawkins made a quick backwards pass to Thibault who found the corner of the net, right above Buckeye goaltender Liana Bonanno's glove.
Ohio State put their first goal on the board at 10:38 in the third period, as Tessa Bonhomme powered her way through the UConn defense. Ohio State's Erin Keys connected for a power play goal four minutes later, which was assisted by Bonhomme and Lisa Chesson.
Connecticut capped off the night with an unassisted goal by Tibault on the Ohio State empty net to clinch the 5-2 victory.
Husky goaltender, sophomore Jennie Bellonio (Guilford, Conn.) recorded 34 saves in just her second start of her career. Bellonio allowed just two goals, both coming in the third period, as she held Ohio State scoreless in the first two periods. Ohio State's Bananno recorded 14 saves for the Buckeyes.
The Huskies will be back in action on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 12-13 in the Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum. UConn will take on Minnesota State at 7:00 p.m. on Friday and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.