STORRS, Conn. - Sophomore Alexandra Garcia (Pointe-Claire, Que.) was instrumental in the No. 8 Connecticut Women's Ice Hockey 2-0 victory over Vermont on Saturday afternoon at Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum. Garcia made 24 saves on the Catamounts, recording her second-consecutive shutout of the season. She records the first back-to-back UConn shutouts since Jan. 23 and 24 last season when Brittany Wilson did so against Northeastern.
In a game that saw a combined 45 shots on goal, for the second-straight game, the Huskies were outshot by the opposition. UConn was unable to render a single shot on goal in the opening stanza while the Catamounts forced Garcia to make six saves. The game was scoreless entering the first intermission despite Vermont's advantage in scoring opportunities.
It was not until the second period that the Huskies were able to get a puck on net and it was not until past the midway point of the game that either team was able to score. Junior Jessica Lutz (Rockville, Md.) fed the puck to senior Cristin Allen (Pickering, Ont.) who lasered a shot from the point over the glove side of Kristen Olychuck for the 1-0 UConn lead at 7:19 in the second period.
Later Vermont's Chelsea Furlani saw her game-tying attempt waved off after Garcia made the initial save. Moments later the Huskies increased their lead over the Catamounts.
Freshman Kelly Horan (Methuen, Mass.) tipped the puck to junior Jennifer Chaisson (Cumberland, Ont.), left of the Vermont net, who sent the pass to freshman Elisabeth Stathopulos (Toronto, Ont.) waiting at the doorstep. Stathopulos scored her seventh of the season to put the Huskies up by two (2-0) with less than six minutes remaining in the second period.
The staunch Catamount defense held the Huskies to a single shot on goal in the final twenty minutes while Vermont managed 11. For the most part, UConn was able to clear the puck from its zone to keep Vermont at bay. Garcia was consistently challenged through much of the final period of regulation and made several significant stick saves as time expired.
Olychuck, who finished the game with seven saves, left the net with 47 seconds remaining. The Catamounts had a few good looks as time ran out. UConn held on to the 2-0 victory for its eighth-straight win.
The relatively brief homestand continues for the Huskies when they host Boston College and New Hampshire next weekend. UConn faces off against the Eagles at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6 before taking on the Wildcats at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 7.
Game Notes
- With the win, the Huskies improve to 14-1-0 against the Catamounts in the all-time series and have now wrapped up three Hockey East regular-season series with a winning record. UConn was 2-0-1 against Boston University and 3-0-0 against both Vermont and Maine in 2009-10.
- Cristin Allen has had at least one point in five of the last six games, including two goals and two assists against Vermont.
- Alexandra Garcia and the UConn defense have not allowed a goal in the 175:42 minutes played.