Vermont Rolls Past Union, 5-1
Junior forward Mackenzie MacNeil and freshman forward Eve-Audrey Picard each score two goals for Catamounts.

Junior forward Mackenzie MacNeil scored two goals for the Catamounts
Prd Time  Team Score Type Scored By Assists
1st 18:43  VER1-0 PP Ève-Audrey Picard (1)Saana Valkama/1, Taylor Willard/1
2nd 5:06  VER2-0 PP GW Taylor Willard (1)Alyssa Gorecki/1
2nd 10:47  UNI1-2 PP Caitlyn McLaren (2)Haley Shugart/2
2nd 18:07  VER3-1 EV Ève-Audrey Picard (2)Victoria Andreakos/1
3rd 2:05  VER4-1 EV Mackenzie MacNeil (1)Victoria Andreakos/2
3rd 19:11  VER5-1 EV EN Mackenzie MacNeil (2) -
Scoring 1st 2nd 3rd Final
Vermont  1225
Union  0101
Shots on Goal 1st 2nd 3rd SOG
Vermont  14131643
Union  78722
Team Stats and Records  PP PIM SHGF
Vermont (1-0-0)  2/8 4/8 0
Union (0-3-0)  1/4 8/16 0
Vermont Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Madison Litchfield (W, 1-0-0)59:381 77721
Empty Net0:220     
Union Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Kate Spooner (L, 0-2-0)59:294 13111438
Empty Net0:311     

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - Freshman Eve-Audrey Picard scored her first two collegiate goals, while Mackenzie MacNeil added two of her own and senior Madison Litchfield made 21 saves as the Vermont women's hockey team knocked off Union 5-1 at Messa Rink on Tuesday evening.

The season-opening win puts the Catamounts at 1-0-0, while Union drops to 0-3-0.

"I'm pleased with our effort and result tonight," said head coach Jim Plumer. "We are focused on building a solid foundation early in the season and this was most definitely a great start. We were solid in all three zones, Madi Litchfield was very good in net and it was great to see us bury some chances."

Picard opened the scoring for UVM with a power play tally at the 18:43 mark of the opening period. With less than 15 seconds remaining on the advantage, Daria O'Neill found Taylor Willard in the high slot, getting off a shot that was turned aside by Union goalie Kate Spooner. Picard picked up the rebound on the doorstep and went stick-side for the goal.

Vermont doubled its lead, once again on the power play, just over five minutes into the middle stanza. Alyssa Gorecki began the sequence by driving to goal, being denied by Spooner. After Victoria Andreakos followed with an attempt in the crease, the puck ricocheted back toward the point, where Willard wound up in front of a screened Spooner to move the score to 2-0.

The Dutchwomen then got on the board with 9:13 remaining on the clock. While in the final stages of a power play, Caitlyn McLaren had a shot blocked, corralling the puck and flicking it into the back of the net to cut UVM's lead to 2-1.

Picard added another for the Catamounts at 18:07 after receiving a feed from Andreakos. The play began when O'Neill struck from the left point, sending a shot wide. Andreakos grabbed the puck behind the net and left it for Picard, who came in front to the right of Spooner and tapped it home.

Vermont extended its lead to three early in the third period on MacNeil's first goal of the season. The junior chased down a loose puck along the left wing, ultimately skating into the offensive zone and firing a wrist shot past Spooner at 2:05.

MacNeil later sealed the victory with an empty net tally in the final minute of play.

UVM is back on the ice on Sunday, Oct. 9, hosting No. 9/10 Boston University at Gutterson Fieldhouse at 2 p.m.