CONNECTICUT ROLLS PAST SACRED HEART, 11-0
Freshman forward Taylor Gross nets hat trick and assist for Huskies

Sophomore forward Kelly Horan had a goal and two assists for UConn

STORRS, Conn. - Taylor Gross (Colorado Springs, Colo.) recorded three goals, two in the first period and one in the third, to lead the University of Connecticut as they defeated Sacred Heart, 11-0 this afternoon in the consolation game of the Nutmeg Classic. The Huskies are now 6-8-1 on the season following this weekend's contests.

The 11 goals scored by UConn in today's contest marked the most by the Huskies in their 10-year history.

The Huskies got out to a 5-0 lead after the first period and never looked back as they posted three additional goals in the second period and three in the third. Nicole Paniccia (Oakville, Ont.) tied her career-high of 21 saves for UConn as she picked up her first career shutout in just her second game as a Husky.

Gross also recorded an assist on Jody Sydor's (St. Albert, Alta.) goal for four total points on the game, which is tied for second most points in a game by a UConn player.

During the first period Gross and Stephanie Raithby (London, Ont.) combined for three goals in the opening five minutes, while Sydor's goal came three minutes later at the 8:37 mark. Sami Evelyn (Nepean, Ont.) posted her first of two goals on the night at the end of the first period, allowing UConn to go into the first intermission with a 5-0 lead.

The trio of Evelyn, Brittany Murphy (Tewksbury, Mass.) and Casey Knajdek (Woodbury, Minn.) posted another three goals for the Huskies at the end of the second period, with Murphy's coming at the 15:00 mark, Evelyn at the 16:45 mark and Knajdek just over a minute later at 17:52. At the end of two periods UConn had the 8-0 advantage with six different goal scorers up to that point.

The Huskies added on three more goals in the final period, with Gross tallying her third of the game at the 8:33 mark and Kelly Horan (Methuen, Mass.) posted her fourth goal of the season exactly two minutes later. Jaclyn Camardo (Arlington Heights, Ill.) was the final Husky to record a goal on the night, as she posted her first of the season with four minutes left in the contest.

Overall, UConn had 12 players to post at least one point on the night, led by Jocelyn Slattery (Hugo, Minn.) who posted five assists against Sacred Heart. Slattery's five points ties Dominique Thibault for the most points recorded by a UConn player in one game.

Jennifer Chaisson (Cumberland, Ont.) (3), Raithby (3), Horan (3), Sydor (2 pts.), Evelyn (2) and Alexandra Vakos (Hamden, Conn.) (2) were also multi-point scorers for the Huskies on the night.

UConn returns to Hockey East action next weekend when they host Boston University at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday (Dec. 4) at the Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum.