Junior defenseman Andrew Lucas scored in the game and in the shootout for the Catamounts
Vermont Takes Shootout After 3-3 Tie With New Hampshire
Junior defenseman Andrew Lucas scored in the game and in the shootout for the Catamounts

Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. - Three times New Hampshire led by a goal Saturday night and three times Vermont tied it before winning the contest in a shootout to earn the invaluable third Hockey East point in what officially was a 3-3 tie at the Whittemore Center. Vermont goaltender Gabe Carriere made 36 saves for the Catamounts including 21 in the third period and overtime.


COACH'S QUOTE

"It was a very similar game to last night where we felt it could have gone either way," Head Coach Todd Woodcroft said. "It is hard to keep or generate momentum in a back-to-back game, especially on the road. However, in both match ups the players showed resilience and grit to stay in the fight. I wasn't happy with our first period last night but the next five periods, the OT and the shootout were very good for this group. It was rewarding for the players to come from behind again and to earn our first road victory."


HOW IT HAPPENED

- The Wildcats opened the scoring 1:46 into the first period. Off a won offensive zone faceoff Will Margel fired a shot towards the net, Carriere made the save but the rebound was right in front for a tap-in from Robert Cronin.

- Just 3:57 late the Catamounts responded and tied the game. On a two-on-one rush Ray Vitolins fed a perfect pass to Andrew Lucas who one-timed a screamer past David Fessenden for his first goal of the season.

- Jackson Pierson reestablished the Wildcats lead 4:02 into the second period. Cutting towards the slot Pierson skated to his left and shot against the grain to his right. Through extensive traffic the puck found the back of the net without Carriere seeing the puck.

- Five minutes later Vermont bounced right back again. In transition Joe Leahy one-touched a feed from Vitolins in the slot, Fessenden made the initial save but the rebound came to Jacques Bouquot who pounded it home for his second goal of the campaign.

- With 6:53 left in the middle frame the Wildcats regained their lead on their first power play of the night. Kalle Erikkson put a pass on a tee for Pierson and he blasted a slap shot bar down from the faceoff circle for his first two-goal game of the season.

- With 3:16 left in the second period William Lemay tied things up again. Lemay took a breakout feed from Leahy and blew by a UNH defender in the neutral zone to skate in on a two-on-one with Isak Walther. Lemay looked shot the whole way and labeled a wrist shot past Fessenden for his second of the season. Andrew Lucas earned the secondary assist on the goal.

- Carriere was outstanding in the third period making 15 saves and pushing the Catamounts to overtime for the second time this season. After a back and forth three-on-three session UVM headed to its first shootout of the season.

- In the shootout Carriere made two saves on UNH's initial three skaters and Lucas and Philip Lagunov scored for the Catamounts to secure the additional league point.


INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

- Since Hockey East reinstituted the shootout for the 2020-21 campaign this was Vermont's first win in the shootout. Last season UVM fell in back-to-back shootout games December 27 against Northeastern and January 1 against Providence.

- Ray Vitolins was named the Third Star of the contest after posting two assists.

- Cornell transfer Joe Leahy picked up his first career points as a Catamount Saturday with two assists. Leahy made his regular season debut for Vermont this weekend at UNH.


WHO'S NEXT

The Catamounts will host No. 12 Providence next weekend for a two-game Hockey East series. The teams will faceoff at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 19 and again at 7 p.m. on Saturday with the broadcasts airing live for free on CollegeSportsLive. The voice of the Catamounts, Adam LaFleur, will also broadcast the action live on WVMT (FM 96.3 / AM 620).

Saturday is the Catamounts annual Military Appreciation Game presented by Milton CAT. The Catamounts will wear special edition Military Appreciation jerseys for the game. These game-worn jerseys will be auctioned off starting at $125 per jersey. The auction will end on Saturday, November 27 at 12 p.m. Proceeds from this jersey auction will go to the Josh Pallotta Fund.