DULUTH, Minn. - Sarah MacDonnell (Quispamsis, New Brunswick) notched the lone goal for the UConn women's ice hockey team in a 6-1 setback to Minnesota Duluth at Amsoil Arena on Saturday evening. The loss drops the Huskies to 0-3-0 on the season, while the completed weekend sweep gives the Bulldogs a 2-0-0 record in their first two outings.
Sarah Moses (New Hamburg, Ontario) got the start between the pipes for the Huskies and had a career-night, turning aside a personal best 45 shots.
Two early Husky penalties proved costly, as the Bulldogs sprinted to a three-goal first period lead. UMD forward Jamie Kenyon scored a pair of power play goals to open the scoring. Her first tally came just 2:20 in on the first extra man opportunity. Just over eight minutes later, Kenyon logged a second man-advantage goal to increase the Bulldog lead to 2-0. Ashleigh Brykaliuk added an even strength tally at 14:53 to put the hosts up by three.
The Huskies responded with a goal at 18:48 on MacDonnell's first of the season to narrow the gap, 3-1. Michela Cava (Thunder Bay, Ontario) and Cassandra Opela (Penfield, N.Y.) assisted on the strike. The assist was the first point of Opela's career.
UMD would strike back in the second period, however, to restore the three goal cushion at 4-1 on an Alivia Del Basso goal with 10:28 elapsed. Katherine McGovern and Bailey Wright rounded out the scoring for UMD in the third period.
Sarah Moses put forth an impressive effort in the loss, setting a new personal-best with a 45 save performance. UMD goaltender Karissa Grapp finished with 15 saves and one goal allowed in the Bulldog cage. Duluth owned the statistics, outshooting the Huskies 51-16. The Bulldogs went 2-for-4 on their power play opportunities while UConn could not get their power play clicking on six extra-man chances. Kayla Campero (Wallingford, Conn.) led the Huskies with four shots on goal.
The Huskies return from Minnesota for a two-game home series against Colgate at Freitas Ice Forum next weekend. Faceoff time for Friday, October 11th is listed at 7 p.m. with a 2 p.m. start on Saturday the 12th.