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Douville and Pelkey Lead Vermont Women to First Ever Win at New Hampshire

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Created on Friday, 04 November 2011 03:20

Written by George Commo

Douville 33 saves ... Pelkey a goal and an assist

Courtesy Vermont Sports Information

DURHAM, N.H. – Roxanne Douville made 33 saves and Amanda Pelkey had a goal and an assist as Vermont won its first ever game at New Hampshire 4-1 Thursday night in Hockey East action at the Whittemore Center.

The Catamounts opened the scoring 5:54 into the first period. Chelsea Rapin scored her first goal of the season after collecting a Kailey Nash point shot behind the net. Rapin corralled the loose puck and beat New Hampshire goaltender Jenn Gilligan to the post with a backhand to give Vermont the early lead.

Vermont doubled its lead nine minutes into the first. On the forecheck Megan Bergland won a puck battle behind the UNH net and backhanded a centering pass from behind the goal line. Kellie Dineen was cutting through the slot on the play and one-timed a snap shot past Gilligan for her third goal of the season.

The Wildcats came out strong in the second period and got one back on the power play early in the second. On the cycle in the Vermont zone Kayla Mork set up Maggie Hunt at the point. She wired a slap shot labeled for the top corner, which beat Douville at the 3:37 mark of the second.  Mork earned her first career point on the play.

New Hampshire outshot Vermont 14-5 through the second frame but Douville and the Catamounts held their 2-1 lead entering the third period.

Despite consistent UNH pressure in the third period the Catamounts were able to extend their lead 8:22 into the final frame. The Catamounts worked a perfect cycle in the corner with Pelkey leaving the puck for Emily Walsh who dropped the puck for Meghan Huertas. Huertas skated out from the corner towards Gilligan and beat her along the ice with a quick wrist shot.

With time ticking away in the third period Wildcats junior Bryana Farris had the best chance to pull UNH within one. Heather Kashman centered the puck to Farris who one-timed a shot from the slot that was snagged by Douville with her glove.

New Hampshire wouldn't get that chance again, as Vermont struck again to push its lead to 4-1 within a minute of Douville robbing Farris in front. Pelkey entered the UNH zone and dropped the puck along the blue line for a one timer by Huertas. Gilligan handled the initial shot but Pelkey tucked home the rebound for her second goal of the season at 14:50.

“It's tremendous, we talked about it before the game, we hadn't won in here and I think the girls were pretty energized about that prospect tonight,” said Head Coach Tim Bothwell. “We found a way to make it happen, it's great to see us scoring some goals and Roxanne was tremendous in net.”

The win moves Vermont to 2-4-4 overall and 2-1-0 in Hockey East play. The loss drops New Hampshire to 3-4-2 and 0-2-1 in league play.

NOTES: Vermont is now 3-2 in its last five games against New Hampshire … Before tonight the Catamounts had never scored more than two goals on the road at UNH … Roxanne Douville made her first Hockey East start of the season, she was named the first star … The Catamounts are 1-0-1 when Amanda Pelkey scores