VERMONT EARNS SPLIT OF WEEKEND SERIES WITH 3-2 WIN OVER NORTHEASTERN
Senior forward Danielle Rancourt scores two goals for Catamounts

Senior forward Danielle Rancourt scored two goals for the Catamounts

BURLINGTON, Vt. - Senior assistant captain Danielle Rancourt scored two goals to lead the Catamounts to a 3-2 win over Northeastern in Hockey East play Saturday afternoon at Gutterson Fieldhouse.

Katie MacSorley opened the scoring for the second straight game as she scored her ninth goal of the season 6:46 into the first period. MacSorley beat a Vermont defender one-on-one and poked the puck past Vermont goaltender Roxanne Douville for her third goal of the weekend series.

The Catamounts responded five minutes later. Delia McNally passed back to the point and Dayna Colang one-timed a high slap shot at Northeastern goaltender Chloe Desjardins. Desjardins made the initial save but Rancourt stashed the rebound home for her first goal of the season at the 11:52 mark.

The second period was a scoreless affair in which the Catamounts outshot the Huskies 13-7. However Vermont headed to the power play to start the third period after MacSorley took a tripping penalty in the Catamounts zone with .2 seconds left in the second period.

Vermont converted 39 seconds into its power play to take a 2-1 lead. Amanda Pelkey walked into the slot and fired a quick wrist shot past Desjardins for her team-leading 11th goal of the season. Brittany Zuback and Dayna Colang picked up assists on the power play tally.

The Catamounts struck again 38 seconds later. Rancourt redirected a Breanne Sundquist point-shot past Desjardins for her second goal of the night.

Northeastern answered back with 11:50 left in the third period. Melissa Haganey scored her first career goal after she collected the rebound off a Heather Mottau shot from the point and put it past an outstretched Douville.

Late in the game Douville stood on her head to preserve the Catamounts lead. She made 13 saves in the third period including three during an extended Huskies five-on-three power play to earn her fourth win of the season.

"I'm happy for the entire group because they really worked hard for this win today," said head coach Jim Plumer. "Nothing comes easy for us but we have made great strides over the least few weekends. We're hoping we can keep the positive momentum rolling with three games in the next week.

Vermont returns to action on Tuesday when they travel to Providence, R.I. for the Catamounts first meeting with Brown (7 p.m.) since 2010.