University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Skate to 2-2 Standoff With No. 9 Mercyhurst
10/19/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
STORRS, CT (Oct. 19) – Freshman Natalie Vibert’s (Thunder Bay, Ontario) second period goal put the Huskies up 2-1, but they could not hold on as the University of Connecticut women’s ice hockey team played No. 9 Mercyhurst to a 2-2 tie Sunday afternoon at the UConn Ice Arena in Storrs. UConn’s record now stands at 1-1-2 on the campaign while Mercyhurst moves to 1-0-1.
UConn stormed out of the gate in the first frame, taking four of the games first five shots. UConn could not find the back of the net however, and Mercyhurst recovered from the early barrage to take a 1-0 lead at 4:59. Stefanie Bourbeau took a shot from the right circle that was stopped by junior Shannon Murphy (Mapleville, RI). Murphy could not control the rebound though as it deflected in the air, allowing Samantha Shirley to swat it into the back of the net from mid-air, giving the Lady Lakers an early 1-0 advantage. The Huskies would answer though with one of their two power-play goals with only eight seconds remaining in the first period. Jennifer Houlden (Richmond Hill, Ontario) fed senior Stefanie Snow (Nashua, NH) at the top of the circle who blasted a shot into the upper right-hand corner, knotting the score up at one a piece.
UConn stole some more momentum with a go-ahead goal at the 15:30 mark of the second period. During a flurry in front of Mercyhurst’s net, both Sara Mahoney (Lynn, MA) and Erika Spaeth (Dallas, TX) tried to stuff the puck past Lady Laker keeper, Desirae Clark to no avail. Vibert collected the rebound off of Spaeth’s shot and punched it into the back of the net, boosting UConn to a 2-1 lead.
Mercyhurst tied it up again with 7:14 remaining in regulation. Lyndsay Barch snuck the puck past Murphy into the upper left corner on a shot from in between the circles, sending the game into OT.
The overtime saw UConn out shot the Lady Lakers 3-2, but neither team could light the lamp and settled for a tie. UConn was out shot 33-to-29 on the afternoon. Murphy made 31 big stops for the Huskies, Clark made 27 save for Mercyhurst.
UConn is back in action Friday, October 19 when they open up Hockey East play with a contest against No. 8 New Hampshire. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. at the UConn Ice Arena.
