BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Vermont women's hockey team scored three goals in the first 4:10 of the third period to come from behind and tie New Hampshire 3-3 in Hockey East action Sunday afternoon at Gutterson Fieldhouse.
Brittany Redlick opened the scoring for the Wildcats on the power play at the 14:18 mark of the first period. A Cassandra Vilgrain point-shot deflected off the post and right to Redlick who tapped it home for her first goal of the season.
Vilgrain added her own power play goal 4:54 into the second period to give the Wildcats a two-goal cushion. A pass from the point was deflected by a Vermont defender and Sara Carlson collected the puck in the slot and fed a pass to Vilgrain who beat Vermont goaltender Roxanne Douville with a quick shot for her fourth goal of the season.
With 2:24 left in the second period Hannah Armstrong capitalized on a goalmouth scramble to score her second goal of the season and give UNH a commanding three-goal lead headed into the intermission.
Bridger Baker got the Catamounts on the board 19 seconds into the third period. Amanda Pelkey beat New Hampshire goaltender Vilma Vaattovaara to the puck behind the net and she centered a pass to Baker who put home her second goal of the weekend into the empty net.
Baker's goal was the fasted by a Catamount to start a period since Jenny Hogan scored 10 seconds into the second period on January 28, 2005 against Union.
Energized by the early tally the Catamounts drew a penalty at the 3:06 mark of the period. Vermont capitalized on its third power play opportunity of the game. Victoria Andreakos chipped a puck into the New Hampshire zone, Brittany Zuback gathered it at the half-boards and cut toward the net. Zuback hit Pelkey in stride and she one-timed her team-leading seventh goal of the season past Vaattovaara to make it 3-2.
On the next shift the Catamounts struck again, just 16 seconds later. Danielle Rancourt walked into the UNH zone and put a low shot on net, Vaattovaara struggled with the puck and Delia McNally took advantage putting home the rebound for her second goal of the season. Vermont erased a three-goal deficit in the first 4:10 of the third period.
Vermont's offensive output was the fastest the Catamounts have scored two or three goals in a similar span since 2007. Against Sacred Heart on October 7, 2007 Molly Morrison and Sarah Smiddy scored two goals just six seconds apart. Brittany Nelson added another to make it three goals in 54 seconds.
The Catamounts continued to pressure in the third period, outshooting the Wildcats 8-4, but neither team could get a game-winner. Vermont headed to overtime for the second time this season.
In the overtime Douville stood on her head, she made seven saves to preserve the tie for the Catamounts, improving her record to 1-3-2 this season.
Vermont returns to action next weekend as they travel to Maine to face the Black Bears in a two-game Hockey East set.