University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Downed 3-0 by Northeastern
1/30/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
STORRS, CT (January 30) -- Northeastern goalkeeper Chandra Gunn stopped all 28 she faced as the University of Connecticut women’s ice hockey team was blanked, 3-0, by Northeastern on Friday evening at the UConn Ice Arena in Storrs. With the victory, NU distances itself slightly from UConn in the standings and improves to 10-5-6 overall, 4-3-2 in Hockey East. Connecticut slips to 7-13-3, 3-4-1 in the loop.
Northeastern got on the board first when Rachael Bertram found the back of the net with only 13 seconds remaining in the first session. With the puck free in front of the NU goal the Huskies got three good shots on net, but Gunn stoned each attempt and NU was able to mount a counter-attack. Marie Desrosiers lofted the puck into UConn’s corner and Ashly Waggoner collected it and served it towards the right face-off circle. Bertram was in the right place at the right time, controlled the puck and one-timed it under Shannon Murphy (Mapleville, RI), giving Northeastern a 1-0 edge.
Connecticut manufactured several good scoring chances in the second stanza, including multiple shots during a 30 second two skater advantage. Caitlin Salazar-Reid (Calgary, Alberta) controlled the puck at the point immediately following a face-off and dished to Tiffany Owens (Bellville, MI) who was open in the slot. Owens directed a wrister that looked ticketed for the back of the net, but Gunn was able to get a piece and deflect it out of harms way. Murphy was rock-solid in net for UConn during the second period, stopping all 13 of Northeastern’s shots.
Murphy was sensational in the early goings of the third period, stoning several NU shots from point-blank range. However, NU managed to slip one past Murphy at 6:33 after she made a diving save and was taken out in the crease and unable to get back on her skates. The puck deflected behind the net and Desrosiers collected it and wrapped the puck around into an open net giving NU a 2-0 advantage. NU’s Theresa Ella added an empty-netter to ice it.
Murphy made 38 saves on the evening and UConn was out-shot 41-28 by Northeastern. NU is now three points clear of Connecticut in Hockey East.
UConn will get a chance to even the series Saturday, January 31 in Boston. The puck is set to drop at 7:00 p.m.
