NEW HAMPSHIRE SHUTS OUT COLGATE, 4-0
Micaela Long posts two assists and Lindsey Minton earns shutout with 10 saves

Lindsey Minton picked up a shutout with 10 saves

DURHAM, N.H. - Sophomore goaltender Lindsey Minton (Richardson, Texas) recorded her second career shutout with a 10-save effort and Micaela Long (South Boston, Mass.) led a balanced attack with two assists to propel the third-ranked University of New Hampshire women's ice hockey team to Friday night's 4-0 victory against Colgate University at the Whittemore Center.

UNH improved to 3-0-0 overall this season and extended its regular-season unbeaten streak to 16 games, as well as its regular-season home unbeaten streak to 28 games (24-0-4). This game marked the season opener for Colgate.

A total of 10 Wildcats recorded a point and Long was the only multiple-point scorer. Colgate goalie Lisa Plenderleith made 30 saves, including 13 in the first period.

The 'Cats generated a handful of dangerous scoring opportunities early in the game, but were foiled by Plenderlieth. Katie Kleinendorst (North Andover, Mass.) was denied on a one-timer from the left doorstep. UNH continued to cycle the puck and Brittany Skudder (Plainview, N.Y.) was turned aside from close range on the left side. In the eighth minute, Long was stopped twice at the right doorstep.

New Hampshire capitalized on a 5-on-3 power play to take a 1-0 lead at 11:28. Long won possession in the right circle and swung the puck back to Kelly Paton (Woodstock, Ont.) at the point. Paton made a centering pass to Courtney Birchard (Mississauga, Ontario), who drifted closer in the slot before wristing a shot into the upper-right corner.

The Wildcats took that 1-0 lead and a 14-2 shot advantage into the first intermission.

UNH put the game away with three second-period tallies. The 'Cats took a two-goal lead with another power-play goal at 1:33. Kelly Cahill (Farmington Hills, Mich.) initiated the play with a pass from the left circle across the ice to Long, who skated in and snapped a shot that caromed off the foot of Kristine Horn (Utica, Mich.) into the net.

Julie Allen (Brampton, Ontario) and Kailey Chappell (Pickering, Ontario) struck 90 seconds apart - at 16:10 and 17:40 - to quickly extend the advantage to 4-0. Kristina Lavoie (Fonthill, Ontario) played the puck behind the net, where Skudder gained possession and fed a pass in front, where Allen snapped home a shot from close range. Chappell tallied her first career point when she skated into the slot to corral the puck and blasted a slap shot into the net. Molly Morrison (So. Burlington, Vt.), with a pass from the left corner, was credited with an assist.

Colgate opened the third period on the power play and generated one of its best scoring chances in the waning seconds of that skater advantage, as Whitney Routman was unmarked at the left post but was stopped by Minton's extended right leg pad.

Plenderleith also made a spectacular save in the final frame. In the seventh minute, Long fed a pass from the right circle across to Horn at the left post, but the Raiders' goalie made a diving effort to keep the puck out of the net.

UNH was 2-for-4 on the power play and 7 of 7 on the penalty kill. The Wildcats' penalty kill is perfect at 19-for-19.

New Hampshire continues its six-game homestand Oct. 10 against Syracuse University. Game time at the Whittemore Center is 5 p.m.