BURLINGTON, Vt. - Four different Catamounts scored and first-year goaltender Jessie McPherson earned a 17-save shutout in her first career start as Vermont defeated Holy Cross 4-0 Friday night from Gutterson Fieldhouse. With the win the Catamounts are now 2-1-0 this season while the Crusaders fall to 3-5-0.
COACH'S QUOTE
"I'm very pleased that we put together a complete performance tonight," said Head Coach Jim Plumer. "We are getting contributions from our entire lineup and it was a great night for our special teams. Special shout out to Ellice Murphy for her first career goal and Jessie McPherson for a shutout in her first career start."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After a dominant first period performance Olivia Kilberg opened the scoring for Vermont with 3:35 left in the frame. Anna Erickson fired a shot towards the Holy Cross net that was knocked down in front by UVM's Theresa Schafzahl. With the puck loose in front Kilberg gathered the puck and stashed it around Holy Cross' Jada Brenon for her first goal of the season.
- With 51 seconds left in the opening frame UVM doubled its lead with its first power play goal of the campaign. At the point Ellice Murphy took the space given her and skated into the slot before firing a wrist shot that found the back of the net through traffic. Murphy's first career goal was assisted by Sara Levesque and Natálie Mlýnková.
- Vermont added another 4:02 into the second period. Corrine McCool skated into the Holy Cross zone and fired a hard-low shot at Brenon. Brenon kicked it aside but the rebound went right to Kristina Shanahan and the Catamounts captain tapped it home for her first goal of the season. Alyssa Holmes picked up her first point of the season with the secondary assist.
- McCool added a second power play goal for the Catamounts with 3:42 left in the third period. Schafzahl fed a perfect pass to McCool backdoor and in one motion she took the pass, spun and put a backhand home to seal Vermont's second win of the season.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- McPherson is the first UVM freshman goaltender to post a shutout win in her collegiate debut since Molly Depew defeated Union on October 25, 2014.
- McPherson is one of just three (UConn's Tia Chan and Penn State's Josie Bothun) freshman goaltenders this season to post a shutout.
- After a perfect seven-for-seven night on the penalty kill Vermont remains one of six teams in the country to have not surrendered a power play goal against this season. UVM is 14-for-14 this season, only Minnesota (16) has done better without giving up a PPG.
- When the Cats Win, Community Wins. With each Catamount win, Vermont Mutual Insurance donates $100 to a local non-profit. In 2020, they donated $15,000 to Spectrum Youth and Family Services. A special thank you to Vermont Mutual Insurance for their support. Vermont Mutual Insurance, protecting Vermonters since 1828.
- With tonight's score of 4-0 Community Bank, N.A. will be adding a donation of $300 to Special Olympics Vermont. Cheer on our Catamounts as they go for the win while creating a special bond with community members! Thank you Community Bank, N.A. for your support of our UVM and Special Olympics athletes!
WHO'S NEXT
The Catamounts and Crusaders will do it again tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. Free streaming of the contest will be available on CBS CollegeSportsLive with Rob Ryan on the call.
