BURLINGTON, Vt. - Peggy Wakeham had a goal and two assists as Vermont came from behind to tie No. 8 North Dakota 3-3 Saturday afternoon at Gutterson Fieldhouse.
North Dakota opened the scoring 8:38 into the first period. Alyssa Wiebe caused a turnover at the Vermont blueline and skated in alone on Kelci Lanthier (36 saves). Wiebe beat Lanthier with a wrist-shot blocker side to give the Fighting Sioux a 1-0 lead. Wiebe's sixth goal of the season was an unassisted short-handed tally.
Vermont responded late in the first period on the powerplay. Kailey Nash drove the puck to the corner and centered a feed to Chelsea Rapin who tipped it past Jorid Dagfinrud (22 saves) for her second goal of the season at 15:43. Wakeham was credited with the second assist on the play.
North Dakota struck again on its own power play at the 17:53 mark of the first period. Jocelyne Lamoureux won an attacking zone faceoff back to her sister Monique Lamoureux-Kolls, who skated into the slot and beat Lanthier with a high slap shot to reestablish their one-goal lead.
The Catamounts equalized late in the second period. On the power play, Dagfinrud stopped a Wakeham point-shot but the rebound was collected by Doucet who directed it towards to the net. With Dagfinrud out of the play Emily Walsh was able to push the puck, loose in the crease, to the back of the net. Walsh's fourth goal of the season came at the 17:48 mark of the second frame.
The Fighting Sioux broke the tie at the 15:04 mark of the third period. Jocelyne Lamoureux found her sister Lamoureux-Kolls who skated into the slot and beat Lanthier with a wrist shot for her fifth goal of the weekend.
With the Catamounts trailing 3-2 in the final minute of the third Vermont pulled its goalie for the extra-attacker. Wakeham took a feed at the point from Walsh and fired a hard shot along the ice. With a screen in front the puck found its way through Dagfinrud and Vermont tied the game with 22 seconds left in the third.
Despite numerous chances on both ends of the ice Lanthier and Dagfinrud stood tall in overtime and preserved the tied for their respective teams.
With the tie Vermont moves to 4-9-9 overall and North Dakota improves to 10-7-3.
Vermont returns to Hockey East action next Friday (Jan. 14) and Saturday (Jan. 15) in a two-game set against Connecticut at Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum.
NOTES: Vermont went to overtime for the 10th time in 22 games this season ... Nine ties, leads the nation, and is a single season Vermont record ... The Catamounts are 3-1-1 in their last five games ... North Dakota is undefeated, 5-0-1, in six games in Burlington.