BURLINGTON, Vt. - Rachel Llanes scored the go-ahead goal 2:02 into the third period to lead No. 8 Northeastern to a 4-2 win over Vermont in Hockey East action from Gutterson Fieldhouse Friday night.
Brittany Zuback opened the scoring 9:29 into the first period off of an aggressive Vermont forecheck. Northeastern goaltender Florence Schelling left the puck behind the net for a Huskies defenseman but Krystal Baumann beat the defender to the puck and backhanded a centering pass. Zuback who was streaking into the zone one-timed the pass past Schelling to give the Catamounts an early lead.
The Huskies got on the scoreboard early in the second period with a two-man advantage on the power play. Vermont goaltender Roxanne Douville made several saves in front of the net but Kelly Wallace was able to corral a loose puck at the side of the net and pass it out to the point. Ann Doherty collected the puck and beat a screened Douville with a slap shot along the ice. Katie MacSorley was credited with the second assist on the goal at the 4:36 mark.
Northeastern struck again in the second to take its first lead of the game. Siena Falino found a loose puck in the slot and her quick shot deflected in front of the net off a Vermont defender and past Douville. Colleen Murphy and Lucie Povova earned assists on the play.
Kellie Dineen tied the game at two at the 14:21 mark of the second period on Vermont's first shot of the period. While killing a penalty Danielle Rancourt lofted a clearing attempt into the Northeastern zone. On the forecheck Dineen got to the puck and moved in on Schelling beating her with a wrist shot just under the crossbar.
The Huskies broke the tie 2:02 into the third period. Northeastern's transition game went to work after a neutral zone turnover by the Catamounts. Casey Pickett fed a cutting Dani Rylan, she got off a shot in close on Douville, but was stopped with a toe save on the post. Trailing on the play Llanes was able to tuck the rebound into the net for her fourth goal of the season.
The Huskies' Casey Pickett added an insurance marker in the last minute of play with Vermont skating with an extra attacker.
"Well a great first period, we have to try and find that first period again tomorrow," said Head Coach Tim Bothwell. "We didn't give up a whole lot offensively, but we just didn't get the job done, it's definitely there for us, we're really close, we just got to stay with it."
The win moves Northeastern to 9-1-0 overall and 4-0-0 in Hockey East play. The loss drops Vermont to 2-5-4 and 2-2-0 in league play.
Vermont returns to action tomorrow afternoon (2 p.m.) when they close out their weekend series against Northeastern.
NOTES: Vermont is 3-3-0 in its last six home Hockey East games ... Meghan Huertas' five-game point streak was snapped Friday night ... Check back to UVMAthletics.com for highlights.