Courtesy Vermont Sports Information
CANTON, N.Y. – St. Lawrence scored three second period goals and held on late to defeat Vermont 3-2 Friday night in non-conference action at Appleton Arena.
Vermont opened the scoring 14:37 into the first period as Taylor Willard fired a shot from the point through a maze of traffic for her first goal of the season. Gina Repaci and Bridget Baker assisted on the even strength tally as the Catamounts scored first for the first time this season.
Lydia Grauer evened the score 4:41 into the second frame. Grauer beat Vermont’s Madison Litchfield with a great individual effort. While tied up in front by a Vermont defender Grauer got off a backhand shot that beat Litchfield for her second goal of the season.
Megan Armstrong put the Saints in front at the 8:59 mark of the second period. Kelly Marchment won a puck battle behind the net and centered a feed to Armstrong who beat Litchfield with a shot that knuckled past her. Hannah Miller was credited with the secondary assist on the goal.
Just 19 seconds later St. Lawrence struck again to take a two-goal lead. Right off a won faceoff Amanda Boulier fed a cross-ice pass to Sydney Bell who beat Litchfield with a quick wrist shot. The Catamounts called their timeout after Bell’s first goal of the season.
Vermont cut the Saints lead back to one 5:54 into the third period. St. Lawrence’s Sonjia Shelly made an initial stop on Victoria Andreakos but Dayna Colang pounced on the rebound and put home her first goal of the season. The referees took a long look at the goal but after review it stood.
Shelly made seven third period saves and 20 total to earn her first career win. Litchfield made 26 saves for Vermont in her fourth start of the season.
“A better effort tonight but we were plagued again by a poor second period,” said head coach Jim Plumer. “We are seeing some progress from this group and are looking forward to opening up Hockey East play next weekend.”
The Catamounts return to action next weekend as they begin Hockey East play on the road. On Saturday Vermont faces Providence at Schneider Arena with faceoff set for 1 p.m. Then on Sunday the Catamounts face No. 9 Boston University in a rematch of last years Hockey East Quarterfinals at 3 p.m.
NOTES: Kourtney Menches and Mackenzie MacNeil were tied for the team lead with four shots on goal … Rachael Ade and Gina Repaci led the team with two blocked shots … Vermont is now 0-1-0 this season when scoring first … There were three penalties called in the game, all in the third period.