BURLINGTON, Vt. - Sophomore Erin Wente scored 1:57 into overtime to lift Vermont past Maine 4-3 in Hockey East action Saturday afternoon. Freshman Roxanne Douville made 17 saves for the Catamounts as they picked up their first league win of the season.
Senior Teddy Fortin opened the scoring at the 11:17 mark of the first period. She took advantage of a defensive turnover behind the Black Bears net. Fortin took a slapshot from beside the net that found its way between the legs of Brittany Ott (21 saves).
The Catamounts added to their lead early on a power play in the second period. After Breanne Sundquist fired a shot from the left point, Chelsea Rapin was able to locate the rebound and buried it into the net just 2:28 into the frame. Kailey Nash earned the second assist on the play.
The Black Bears got on the board 5:23 into the second period when Danielle Ward notched her seventh goal of the season. Brittany Dougherty slid a pass into the slot to Ward, who fired a wrist shot past Douville.
Vermont regained a two-goal advantage 5:22 into the third period when Wente tallied her fourth goal of the season. Lindsey Cashman stole the puck in the neutral zone and passed it up to Wente who skated in on a breakaway. She beat Ott with a backhand shot over her right pad.
Just eight seconds later, directly off the faceoff the Black Bears struck back. Jennie Gallo took a feed from Missy Denk on a 2-on-1 and beat Douville for her tenth goal of the season.
Ward tied things up for Maine 12:51 into the third period with her second goal of the game. With the Black Bears on the power play, Kelly McDonald sent the puck down to the goal line to Ward, who quickly one-timed the puck past a diving Douville.
The game moved into overtime, Vermont's ninth overtime game of the season. Just seven seconds into the extra frame Vermont was awarded a power play opportunity off the opening faceoff.
While on the power play 1:57 into the overtime session Rapin took a wrist shot from the top of the right circle and Ott made the initial save. A rebound came out off Ott's pad and Wente came in and put home the loose puck to give Vermont its first Hockey East win of the season. Hannah Westbrook was credited with the second assist.
The win moves Vermont to 2-8-8 overall and 1-6-4 in Hockey East play. The loss drops Maine to 7-7-3 and 2-3-2 in league play. The loss snapped Maine's six-game unbeaten streak.
Vermont returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 29 when they host Dartmouth College at Gutterson Fieldhouse. Puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m.