WORCESTER, Mass. - The University of Connecticut women's hockey team defeated Holy Cross Sunday afternoon to notch their 14 Hockey East conference win of the year. Sophomore Jada Habisch and graduate student Morgan Wabick would score for the Huskies helping secure the victory.
The first period was a defensive battle with both teams playing clean hockey and keeping the puck in the neutral zone. Holy Cross would look to break the stalemate first as they would go on the power play midway through the first period. Freshman goaltender Megan Warrener and the Huskies penalty kill would stay strong preventing any true scoring chances. While on the power play the Huskies would generate a few opportunities of their own including a breakaway by sophomore Jada Habisch that would be turned away by the Holy Cross goaltender. UConn would go on the power play a few moments later but were unable to score resulting in both teams heading to the locker room tied at zero.
The second period began with UConn instantly jumping on the attack. UConn would pressure the Holy Cross defense and fire pucks on the net looking to be the first team on the board. AT one point during the period UConn held the puck in the Holy Cross zone for over three minutes. A Holy Cross breakaway look destined to break the stalemate however freshman Megan Warrener would make two big saves to keep the Crusaders scoreless. Viki Harkness would take the puck off the Megan Warrener save and pass to a breaking Jada Habisch who would score to give the Huskies the early lead. UConn wouldn't let up as they would continue to pressure the Holy Cross defense causing a turnover, which senior Danielle Fox would take and fire into the slot to graduate student Morgan Wabick who would score to give UConn the two-goal lead. Late in the second period Holy Cross would score on a backhand shot by sophomore Millie Sirum to cut the Huskies lead to one. UConn would head into the locker room with a one goal lead.
The third period would mirror the first period with both teams struggling to generate any true scoring chances. UConn would have the opportunity to extend their lead midway through the third period, but the shot would ring off the crossbar and bounce out. Holy Cross would continue to pressure the UConn defense looking for the equalizer, but freshman Megan Warrener and the UConn defense would stay strong. UConn's defense would finish with five blocked shots to go along with Warrener's 25 saves. The Crusaders would pull their goalie with less than two minutes remaining in the game but would be unable to tie it as the Huskies would come away with the victory.
UP NEXT
The Huskies will return to the ice Friday February 4 as they travel to Boston University to take on the Terriers. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
