BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Vermont women's hockey team scored three third period goals in a 4-2 win over the ninth-ranked Boston University Terriers in Hockey East action Friday night at Gutterson Fieldhouse.
The Catamounts opened the scoring 1:45 into the second period on their only power play chance of the evening. Vermont goaltender Roxanne Douville passed up to Gina Repaci who found Delia McNally behind the Terriers defense. McNally walked in alone, but she was hooked from behind as Boston U goaltender Kerrin Sperry went for the poke-check. McNally pushed the puck forward and it found the back of the net for her fifth goal of the season. Douville earned her first career assist on the play.
The Terriers evened the score midway through the second frame. Sarah Lefort cut into the slot and got a quick shot off, Douville made the initial save but Kaleigh Fratkin collected the rebound and put it home for her third goal of the season.
Early in the third period the Catamounts regained the lead. Casey Leveillee won a puck-battle in the corner and centered a pass to Kellie Dineen, who one-timed a shot past Sperry for her second goal of the year. Klara Myren also earned an assist on the go-ahead goal 2:54 into the final frame.
The Terriers bounced right back once again. Louise Warren tied the game at two with a great individual effort at the 5:51 mark. She skated past a Vermont defender at the faceoff circle before cutting toward the goal and slipping the puck past Douville for her 17th goal of the season.
With 1:30 left in regulation the Catamounts forced a turnover at their own blue line and pushed the puck up ice with Brittany Zuback and Sarah Kelly in pursuit. Zuback entered the Terriers zone and fed a cross-ice pass to Kelly who one-timed a shot along the ice that went in for her first career game-winning goal.
The Terriers pulled Sperry for an extra-attacker following Kelly's goal, after a series of defensive plays the Catamounts got the puck up to Victoria Andreakos who scored her seventh goal of the season into the empty-net.
Vermont's win over the Terriers was the programs first since January of 2010. It also marked the program's first win over a ranked opponent under head coach Jim Plumer.
"I think without a doubt this was our most complete performance since I've been here," said Plumer. "We got the confidence last week that we were playing at a high level against a ranked opponent and to be able to finish it off with the win tonight, it's a confidence boost."
The Catamounts close on their season series against the Terriers tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. Saturday will be Vermont's annual game as part Hockey East Skating Strides Against Breast Cancer initiative.
The team's game-worn pink jerseys are being auctioned off now at auction.uvmathletics.com with bids starting at $75 per jersey.
Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game. Hockey East pink merchandise will be on sale in the main lobby. Pink paper skates will also be on sale for $1 and will be hung in the Hockey Hall of Honor.
NOTES: Vermont is 8-2-2 this season when scoring first, including a 5-1-0 mark in league play ... 29 of the Catamounts 64 goals this season have come in the third period ... WIth the win tonight Vermont ties the Division I record for wins in a season. with 10, set in 2009-10 ... 11 Catamounts earned at least a point tonight.