VERMONT SKATES TO 3-3 TIE WITH PENN STATE
Freshman forward Victoria Andreakos posts goal and two assists for Catamounts

Junior forward Brittany Zuback had a goal and an assist for the Catamounts

BURLINGTON, Vt. - Freshman Victoria Andreakos had a goal and two assists as the Catamounts played to a 3-3 tie in a back and forth affair Friday night in non-conference action at Gutterson Fieldhouse.

After a scoreless first frame the Nittany Lions opened the scoring on the power play. After Jordin Pardoski redirected a Shannon Yoxheimer shot in the slot, the puck trickled through the legs and sat behind Vermont goaltender Roxanne Douville (18 saves) in the crease. Freshman Kelly Seward skated in from the point and put the loose puck home at the 13:32 mark for her first career goal.

Andreakos answered back for the Catamounts with her own first goal as a collegian. Brittany Zuback fed a pass to Andreakos and she broke in alone on Penn State's Nicole Paniccia (35 saves). She quickly went to her backhand and roofed a shot to equalize with 35 seconds left in the second period.

Just 2:39 into the third period Amanda Pelkey gave the Catamounts their first lead of the night. Pelkey skated past a Penn State defender, cut alone into the slot, and beat Paniccia with another backhand shot. Zuback and Andreakos picked up assists on the goal.

Taylor Gross equalized for Penn State a little over two minutes later. Yoxheimer fired on net from the left wing and the rebound hit Gross in traffic and found the back of the net.

Vermont capitalized on their eighth power play opportunity of the night to take a 3-2 lead with 4:04 left in the third period. Pelkey fed a cross-crease pass to Zuback who cashed in her first of the season with a quick release past Paniccia.

The Nittany Lions came right back, 27 seconds later Yoxheimer, Penn State's leading scorer from a year ago, walked into the slot and beat Douville with a wicked snap shot over her shoulder.

The two teams went to overtime for the first time in series history. The Catamounts out-shot Penn State 4-2 in the extra frame, but the game ended at three apiece.

"Credit to Penn State for battling hard tonight," said head coach Jim Plumer. "I thought we played well in spurts and we are simply going to have to be smarter in key situations."

The Catamounts will conclude the two-game series on Saturday afternoon with a 2:30 p.m. faceoff. Fans can watch the game live in HD at CatamounTV.com.

NOTES: Vermont is now 4-5-4 in season openers since becoming a Division I program in 2001 ... In three games the Catamounts are now 1-1-1 all-time against Penn State.