STORRS, Conn. (Feb. 1, 2009) - Nicole Tritter (Toronto, Ont./Toronto Jr. Aeros Inter. AA) scored 50 seconds into the University of Connecticut women's ice hockey teams third overtime this season. The Huskies won the 2-1 game at Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum on Sunday afternoon.
OTHER LINKS: Heather Linstad Audio (mp3) - Bob Deraney Audio (mp3)- Co-Captain Amy Hollstein (mp3)- Co-Captain Dominique Thibault (mp3)- Captain Brittany Simpson (mp3)- Genevieve Lacasse (mp3)
The Friars came out firing in the first period registering nine shots on goal while he Huskies had difficulty getting out of their own zone to challenge Providence's Genevieve Lacasse.
Amber Young had three scoring opportunities of her own in the first 20 minutes while the best opportunity came for Ashley Cottrell who Brittany Wilson (Nepean, Ont/Ottawa Intermediate AA) stopped cold with a glove save.
With five minutes remaining in the first period, the Huskies began to find their rhythm and finished with eight shots on goal. Jennifer Chaisson (Cumberland, Ont./St. Peter Catholic) made a pass across the lane to Dominique Thibault (L'Orignal, Ont.) who was denied by Lacasse. Michelle Binning (Oshawa, Ont./Toronto Jr. Aeros Inter AA) forced the Providence netminder to make a pair of saves after collecting her own rebound later in the period.
Despite quality opportunities for each side the game remained scoreless at the first intermission.
The defensive dual continued in the second with Lacasse and Wilson each making instrumental saves on the opposition. Wilson robbed Providence's Colleen Martin with a glove save while Lacasse continued to stop Binning's best efforts.
With traffic in front and Wilson committed down low, Laura Veharanta hit the back of the net for her 15th of the season. Assisted by Brittany Simpson, the goal gave the Friars a 1-0 lead less than four minutes remaining in the second period. The one-goal advantage held through to the second intermission.
Early in the third period, Thibault went in alone on Lacasse and was denied. The UConn scoring leader eventually tied the game 1-1 with her Hockey East best 24th goal of the season. On the power-play, the Huskies were once again able to capitalize this season to tie the game with just under half the final period of regulation remaining. Cristin Allen (Pickering, Ont./Durham Lightning AA) and Amy Hollstein (Pembroke, Mass./Lawrence Academy) assisted the game-tying goal.
A tripping penalty against the Friars gave UConn the man advantage for the final minute and twenty seconds of regulation. The Huskies responded with several solid scoring opportunities and Binning saw her hopeful gamewinner collected by Lacasse with 20 seconds left on the clock.
UConn entered the extra session with the power play and scored just 50 seconds into overtime. Allen passed the puck to Monique Weber (Rogers, Minn.) who took it through the neutral zone and fed it to Tritter in front of the Providence net. Tritter fired the wrist shot past Lacasse and secured the Huskies 10th Hockey East victory of the season.
Wilson finished the game with 24 saves while Lacasse stopped 34 of UConn's 36 shots.
As part of today's "Skating Strides Against Breast Cancer" game, the Huskies presented their $9,000 check as part of the conference-wide fundraising efforts. The money raised by women's ice hockey and Connecticut fans will be given to the American Cancer Society and the Friends of Mel Foundation.
UConn hosts Boston University on Friday for a 7 p.m. puck drop before traveling to the Terriers on Saturday at 3 p.m. The first 100 fans to arrive at Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum on Feb. 6 will receive a free slice of pizza.
Game Notes
- The win snapped a three-game losing streak to Providence and is the first win for the Huskies since the second regular-season meeting last year (Feb. 9, 2008).
- This was Nicole Tritter's first game-winning goal of the season. She scored three last season and one in each in her freshman and sophomore seasons.
- The Huskies scored a power-play goal in each game against the Friars this weekend.