University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Drop 5-3 Decision to No. 5 St. Lawrence
11/28/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
CANTON, NY (Nov. 28) -- Junior Erika Spaeth (Dallas, TX) scored her second goal in as many games and assisted on two other scores, but the University of Connecticut women’s ice hockey team could not overcome an early four goal deficit, as the Huskies dropped a 5-3 decision to No. 5 St. Lawrence in Canton, NY Friday evening. With the loss, UConn drops to 4-7-3 on the year, while St. Lawrence improves to 7-3-1.
St. Lawrence jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead after the first period lighting the lamp three times in 8:42. Gina Kingsbury gave SLU the lead it would not relinquish just two minutes into the contest, off assists from Rebecca Russell and Chelsea Grills. UConn keeper Shannon Murphy (Mapleville, RI) made the initial save off a shot from Grills, but Kingsbury collected the rebound and punched it in the back of the net.
The Saints’ third goal of the period came when Rickie Lee-Doyle led Kate Michael perfectly in between the circles and went top-shelf on Murphy. Murphy was pulled at the 6:14 mark of the second period after Kim Kodatsky scored her first collegiate goal.
UConn would not lie down though, as Spaeth scored Connecticut's first goal of the night at 13:34 off an assist from Natalie Vibert (Thunder Bay, Ontario).
After SLU’s fifth and final goal, which came at the second period’s 14:57 mark, UConn played far better. The Huskies dominated the third period, out-shooting the Saints 15-to-four and scoring two unanswered goals. Spaeth fired a shot from the point that was saved by SLU net-minder Rachel Barrie. However, Leslie Hurlburt (Markham, Ontario) gathered the rebound and stuffed it past Barrie giving UConn its second goal of the night at 10:29. Spaeth would assist on UConn’s third goal as well, which was finished by sophomore Janelle Armitage (Kinsella, Alberta) at 11:05.
Murphy stopped 12 of the 16 shots she faced, while replacement Kaitlyn Shain (Calgary, Alberta) made 15 saves and allowed just one goal in 32 minutes of action.
UConn held its own with the nation’s fifth-ranked squad, as the Huskies were only out-shot by a 32-to-31 margin.
The Huskies will take the ice with St. Lawrence tomorrow in Canton at the Appleton Arena. The puck is set to drop at 4:00 p.m.
