Women’s Hockey: Catamounts Rally For Tie With Crusaders

Posted on by George Commo

Courtesy Vermont Sports Information

BURLINGTON — Lily Humphrey scored the tying goal with 56 seconds left in regulation as Vermont (9-13-7, 6-11-6 HEAW) and Holy Cross (3-20-5, 3-17-2 HEAW) skated to a 2-2 draw on Sunday at Gutterson Fieldhouse. The Catamounts rallied back from a two-goal deficit in the final seven minutes.

COACH’S QUOTE
“Credit to Holy Cross’ goalie Jada Brenon (51 saves) for a tremendous game,” said head coach Jim Plumer. “We had an abundance of chances throughout the game and weren’t able to capitalize. I’m proud of the comeback to take a point, but we will have to be sharper coming down the home stretch of the season.”

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Crusaders grabbed a 1-0 lead 12:47 into the first period on Bailey Bennett’s first goal of the season. The junior got the puck in the slot and banked a shot off the post and in for the power-play marker. Kailey Langefels and Antonia Matzka were credited with assists.
Carlie Magier doubled the Holy Cross lead with 41 seconds left in the middle frame. The Crusaders’ leading goal scorer snuck a shot under the pads of Natalie Ferenc (15 saves) for her fourth goal of the season. Sofia Smithson and Bennett assisted on the late second-period goal.
Vermont outshot Holy Cross 34-10 through two periods, with a 16-4 advantage in the middle period.
Val Caldwell began the UVM comeback with 6:24 to play in the third period. Corinne McCool found the junior on the rush and Caldwell batted the puck home to break up the shutout. Maude Poulin-Labelle had the secondary assist.
Humphrey scored the tying marker in the final minute as the Cats brought on the extra attacker. The rookie drilled a shot into the back of the net after receiving a pass from Theresa Schafzahl. Kristina Shanahan also assisted on the tying goal.
The Hockey East counterparts exchanged three shots each in overtime, but Vermont had arguably the best chance of the middle frame when Poulin-Labelle rang the post with a shot from the high slot.
NOTES
Shanahan tallied eight shots on goal, which matches a season high by a Catamount. Her assist on the tying goal gives her 11 points in her last 11 games.
UVM puts up 50-plus shots for the first time since February 18, 2017 with a 50-shot performance against Merrimack.

UP NEXT
The Catamounts will be hosting the seventh annual Pack the Gut game on Friday (Feb. 7). The goal is to break the Hockey East attendance record, which was set by Vermont on Feb. 3, 2017 in the fourth annual Pack the Gut challenge. All tickets are on sale for $2. Presented by The Windjammer and Upper Deck Pub, this year’s push to break the record will benefit Kayla’s Directory. Kayla has been a member of the Vermont women’s hockey team since 2015 through Team Impact. There will be an ice cream social after the game for fans to interact with their favorite Catamounts.