STORRS, Conn. - The UConn women's hockey team used a dominate, three-goal third period to skate away with a 4-1 victory of the New Hampshire Wildcats on Saturday afternoon at the Freitas Ice Forum. UConn improves to 13-9-1 on the season, while New Hampshire drops to 8-11-4.
Sophomore Natalie Snodgrass led the charge for the Huskies with two goals, including the game-tying score in the second period that got the offense going. Classmate Morgan Wabick and junior Catherine Crawley also found the back of the net for the Huskies with one goal apiece.
Junior goaltender Morgan Fisher followed up last night's 32 save performance with another outstanding showing in net, posting 39 saves for the Huskies.
1st Period:
New Hampshire took a 1-0 lead just under four minutes into the first period. After a UConn checking penalty resulted in a power play for the visitors, Carlee Turner ripped a shot from the right point past the glove of Morgan Fisher to put the Wildcats on the board first at 3:56.
The Huskies also faced some heavy defensive pressure, managing just five shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes of play.
2nd Period:
Despite only putting up six shots in the second, all six attempts were quality scoring opportunities and the Huskies were able to find the equalizer at 16:06. After Taylor Wabick interrupted a New Hampshire pass, the puck found its way over to Natalie Snodgrass who then pivoted and raced down the ice, knifing through the Wildcat defenders.
Kyra Smith inched out of the goal crease and angled her body in an attempt to disrupt Snodgrass' path, but the unfazed sophomore sent the puck over the right shoulder of the UNH netminder into the back of the net, tying the game at 1-1.
3rd Period:
UConn took a one-goal advantage just three minutes in. Morgan Wabick, off the feed from Briana Colangelo and Savannah Bouzide, rifled a shot past the right leg of Smith at 2:38 to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead.
The Huskies increased their lead to 3-1 at 10:04 capitalizing on the power play after UNH was whistled for slashing. Snodgrass tallied her second goal of the afternoon on the play, getting the assist from Colangelo and Catherine Crawley.
Crawley added the finishing touches, scoring an empty netter at 19:30 to give the Huskies a 4-1 advantage.
Husky Highlights/Game Notes...
- UConn takes the 2018-19 season series against the Wildcats, 2-1.
- The Huskies extend their winning streak to six games.
- The UConn defense continues to be extremely efficient on the penalty kill, racking up nine in the two games this weekend.
- Netminder Morgan Fisher recorded 39 saves in tonight's win, pushing her weekend total to 71.
- Natalie Snodgrass has scored at least one goal in each of the last five games for the Huskies.
Up Next...
UConn will continue Hockey East competition with a home-and-home series against No. 3 Northeastern Jan. 18-19. The Huskies will head to Boston for the first game of the series before returning to their home ice on Jan. 19 to wrap up the weekend. Friday's game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start time, while Saturday's tilt is set for a 3 p.m. puck drop.
