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Sophomore forward Kira Juodikis scored four goals for the Wildcats
Four Goals From Juodikis Lead New Hampshire Past Holy Cross, 7-4
Sophomore forward Kira Juodikis scored four goals for the Wildcats

Box Score

WORCESTER, Mass - Sophomore forward Kira Juodikis (LaSalle, Ontario) scored four goals, including a third-period hat trick, to propel the University of New Hampshire women's hockey team to Sunday's 7-4 win against College of the Holy Cross at Hart Center Rink.

Juodikis broke a 4-4 tie 31 seconds into the third period, struck again at 11:32 and scored an empty-net goal with 92 seconds remaining to secure the victory. Marina Alvarez (Center Moriches, N.Y.) and Nicole Kelly (Brantford, Ontario) both tallied a goal and an assist. Brianna Brooks (Whtby, Ontario), Emily Pinto (Mulmur, Ontario) and Chavonne Truter (Uxbridge, Ontario) each finished with two assists.

Senior goaltender Nicky Harnett (Plymouth, Minn.) was credited with 24 saves. Tamara Thierus (Saint-Jerome, Quebec) scored UNH's other goal.

Mary Edmonds led Holy Cross' offense with two goals. Starting goalie Madison Beck allowed four goals and made seven saves in the first period. Brooke Loranger went the rest of the way in net with 23 saves and three goals against.

UNH completed the season sweep of Holy Cross to improve to 11-19-0 overall and 9-14-0 in Hockey East. Holy Cross is now 6-22-1, 5-18-0.


UP NEXT

- New Hampshire returns to action Friday, Feb. 10 (6 p.m.) at the University of Vermont.

- The Wildcats' next home game is the last weekend of the regular season, Feb. 17-18 against Vermont. Game time both days is 2 p.m.


FIRST PERIOD

- The teams combined for seven goals on 23 shots in the opening 20 minutes.

- Kelly gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead at 4:59 when she skated out of the left corner and snapped a shot under the crossbar. Rae Breton (Brighton, Ontario) and Truter were credited with assists.

- Edmonds' first goal of the game leveled the score, 1-1, at 7:13.

- HC was assessed a five-minute major penalty at 12:45 and the Wildcats capitalized with power-play goals 33 seconds apart to build a 3-1 lead.

- Thierus' one-timer from the slot into the upper-left corner put UNH back in front, 2-1, at 14:13. Jada Christian (Caledon East, Ontario), with the centering pass from the end boards, and Emily Rickwood (Brantford, Ontario), who wrapped the puck around the boards from the left point, set up the goal.

- Juodikis scored off her own rebound at the left post to give the 'Cats a two-goal lead at 14:46. The sequence started on a shot from the high slot by Lauren Martin (Cambridge, Ontario) that was stopped by Beck. Brooks chipped the rebound from the slot down low to Juodikis.

- A UNH skater was sent to the penalty box at 15:23 and both teams netted a 4-on-4 goal to advance the score to 4-2.

- The Wildcats extended the margin to 4-1 at 16;04 when Kelly corralled Truter's pass at the left point and pushed the puck to the slot, where Alvarez snapped a lot shot into the cage.

- Holy Cross trimmed the deficit to 4-3 on goals by Mille Sirum at 16:04 and Alexia Moreau at 18:05.


SECOND PERIOD

- UNH recorded a 10-7 shot advantage in the second stanza but the home team netted the only goal to level the score, 4-4, when Edmonds potted her second goal of the game at 14:54.


THIRD PERIOD

- UNH outscored the hosts 3-0 in the final frame with a 16-8 shot advantage.

- Juodikis jammed the puck in from the right doorstep to put New Hampshire back in the lead, 5-4, 31 seconds into the third period. Pinto, with the pass from behind the net, and Kyla Bent (Halifax, Nova Scotia) were credited with assists.

- Juodikis completed her game hat trick at 11:57 to give UNH a 6-4 lead. Brooks, with the pass from behind the net to Joudikis at the left post, and Alvarez set up the tally.

- With Loranger pulled in favor of an extra skater, Pinto won possession on the boards in the defensive zone to Gabby Jones (Westfield, Mass.), who advanced the puck to Juodikis and she fired a shot into the empty net to extend the advantage to 7-4 at 18:28.


GAME NOTEBOOK

- UNH finished with a 37-28 shot advantage and 43-22 edge in faceoffs.

- The Wildcats went 2-for-5 on the power play and their penalty kill was perfect with only one shot allowed on three HC power plays.

- The Crusaders blocked 12 shots and UNH had eight blocks.


UNH NOTEBOOK

- Thirteen Wildcats recorded a point and that included six 'Cats with multiple points.

- Juodikis recorded career highs in both goals and points with her four goals. Her previous benchmarks were two goals and three points.

- Alvarez matched her career high of two assists.

- Brooks, Pinto and Truter all equaled their personal best of two assists.

- Brooks won 22 of her 30 faceoffs; Jones went 13-for-20 in the circle.

- Brooks recorded her 50th career point with her second assist; she has career totals of 19 goals and 31 assists.

- Breton led the 'Cats with four blocks.

- Rickwood extended her school record for career games played to 159.

- Seven goals are the most scored by UNH this season, and the four first-period goals matched the Wildcats' highest single-period output.

- UNH also tied its season high of two power-play goals.


SERIES NOTEBOOK

- UNH has a 15-1-0 lifetime record against Holy Cross that includes 7-1-0 on the road.

- The Wildcats have won each of the past seven meetings.