CANTON, N.Y. (Oct. 19, 2007) - A late goal by junior Samantha Reid (Innisfil, Ont.) lifted the University of Connecticut women's ice hockey team to a 3-2 win over third ranked St. Lawrence in non-conference action on Friday afternoon.
St. Lawrence began the game attacking the Husky defense and connected for the lone goal in the first period off a shot by Carson Duggan at 4:33 in the opening period. Duggan, who recorded her third goal of the season, was assisted by Sabrina Harbec and Lisa Batchelor. The Huskies were unable to score in the first 20 minutes of play but out shot the Saints 9-8 while winning face offs 12-11.
During the second period of play, the Huskies answered back as Hockey East TPS Player of the Week, Dominique Thibault (L'Orignal, Ont.) found the back of the net less than three minutes into play. Nicole Tritter (Toronto, Ont.) and Cristin Allen (Pickering, Ont.) both earned assists on Thibault's fourth goal of the season.
Five minutes after Thibault's 18th career goal, sophomore Michelle Binning (Oshawa, Ont.) scored her third goal this season as she sent an unassisted shot past Saints' goaltender, Meaghan Guckian to take a 2-1 lead.
The Saints responded to Binning's goal with one of their own to tie the game at two. Tara Akstull found the back of the net with less than five minutes remaining in the game. She was assisted by Alison Domenico and Chelsea Grills.
Without hesitation, the Huskies got back into play, taking control over the game. With just 2:34 left on the clock, Reid scored the game-winning goal off a pass from freshman Jennifer Chaisson (Cumberland, Ont.) and Thibault. Reid's goal was her first of the season and third career goal as a Husky. Chaisson contributed with her second point of her career while Thibault picked up her sixth assist this season.
UConn goaltender Brittany Wilson (Nepean, Ont.) recorded 11 saves in the third period and 26 saves overall in her third win of the season as she advanced her record to 3-1-0. The Saints' Guckian had 18 saves in the loss.
The Huskies, now 4-1-0, will face off with Colgate on Saturday, Oct. 20 in Hamilton, N.Y. at 4:00 p.m.