CONNECTICUT TIES DARTMOUTH, 3-3

Michelle Binning scored two goals and an assist for the Huskies

STORRS, Conn. - Senior Michelle Binning (Oshawa, Ont.) scored twice in the University of Connecticut women's ice hockey game versus Dartmouth at Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum. The Huskies (9-6-5, 2-3-4-1) fifth overtime game of the season ended in a 3-3 draw on Sunday afternoon.

The Big Green (6-6-2, 4-4-1) captured a quick two-goal advantage, scoring twice within a minute and a half of play in the first period. Camille Dumais struck first with an assist by Jenna Hobeika before Amanda Trunzo scored on the power play at 7:54 for the 2-0 edge. She was assisted by Jenn Cunningham for the first of two Big Green power-play goals on the day.

In a game that saw 18 penalties called between the two teams, both teams were guilty of giving away significant shorthanded opportunities although neither team was able to score a shorthanded mark.

Senior captain Amy Hollstein (Pembroke, Mass.) scored for the second-consecutive game with less than two minutes remaining in the first period to get the Huskies back into the game. Binning and sophomore Monique Weber (Rogers, Minn.) had the assists on Hollstein's fifth of the season. UConn headed or the locker room trailing by one (2-1).

In the second period, Weber had an assist for the second time, aiding Binning's power-play goal at 14:13 of the second period. Sophomore Sami Evelyn (Nepean, Ont.) also had an assist on the Huskies power-play goal to tie the game 2-2.

A major infraction on the Big Green's part gave the Huskies five minute power play during which UConn scored its third unanswered goal of the game. Binning put the puck up high over Whitney Woodcox, who committed down low, as the senior assistant captain collected the rebound to give the Huskies a 3-2 advantage going into the second intermission. Fellow assistant captains, senior Cristin Allen (Pickering, Ont.) and junior Jody Sydor (St. Alberta, Alta.) had the assists on Binning's second power play goal of the game.

UConn was unable to hold onto the lead as Sasha Nanji, who led the Big Green with five shots on the day, capitalized on the power play to tie the game midway through the final period of regulation. It was her second of the year with an assist from Geneva Kilman. Dartmouth finished the game with two power-play goals, making the Big Green the second ECAC opponent to do so against the Huskies this season. Harvard scored twice with the man advantage on Dec. 8.

Despite a flurry of shots in front of Woodcox and few narrowly missed scoring opportunities on either side, especially for the Huskies, at the end of 60 minutes the teams remained tied. UConn entered overtime for the fifth time this season and for the fifth time skated away with a tie. The Big Green had three scoring chances in the extra session to the Huskies one.

For the first time in program history, the Huskies will play at a NHL venue on Friday, Jan. 9 in their first-ever women's ice hockey game against Robert Morris at 2 p.m. as part of the Pittsburgh College Hockey Showcase. UConn heads down to Pennsylvania for a pair of games, taking on the Colonials on Saturday at 4 p.m. in RMU's home venue of RMU Island Sports Center.