University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Travel To No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth
10/22/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
Oct. 22, 2010
Games 6-7
at No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth (3-1-0)
Place: DECC - Duluth, Minn.
All-Time Series: First Meeting
The Week Ahead
The University of Connecticut women's ice hockey team will close out their four-game road swing this weekend, facing No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday (Oct. 23) and Sunday (Oct. 24). UConn will face off against the reigning national champions at 4:07 p.m. EST both days.
Bring On The Champs
Saturday's game against the Bulldogs will mark the first time that UConn has played the reigning national champion in their 11 year history. After this weekend though, the Huskies will have faced all of the previous national champions, combining for five games against Minnesota (04, 05) and Wisconsin (06, 07, 09).
...Tough Competition
Minnesota-Duluth also represents the highest-ranked team that UConn will face this season according to this week's polls. The Bulldogs, who are ranked No. 3/4, have been ranked in the top-five in both the USA Today and USCHO.com polls since the beginning of the 2010-11 season. Other UConn opponents ranked this week include; Boston University (5), Boston College (7) and Providence (RV).
Back-To-Back
Freshman Taylor Gross posted goals in both games this weekend, including the lone UConn goal against Syracuse on Saturday (Oct. 16). Gross now leads the team with three goals this season and is second with four points.
...Making An Impact
Gross has teamed up with her classmates to record 50% of UConn's goals, 25% of the assists and 35% of the Huskies' points this season, as the freshmen class leads all categories. Three newcomers have posted goals this season, including Gross (3), Jocelyn Slattery (1) and Stephanie Raithby (1), while four have tallied assists; Gross (1), Slattery (1), Jenny Saxon (1) and Alexandra Vakos (1).
Paniccia Gets First Start
Freshman Nicole Paniccia had her first start in net as a Husky last weekend against Syracuse, playing 33 minutes with 21 saves. With her start against Syracuse, Paniccia became just the second Husky to play in net over the past 26 games, along with teammate Alexandra Garcia.
Chaisson In The Record Books
Jennifer Chaisson leads the Huskies with five points on the season, three assists and two goals, and has recorded at least one point in all but one game this year, with a season-high of two against Colgate (Oct. 15). Chaisson now ranks fourth on the career assists chart with 46 helpers and seventh with 68 career points. She is four assists shy of tying Dominique Thibault (2006-09) for third place on the career assists chart and four points shy of tying Cristin Allen (2006-10) in sixth place with 72 career points.
Going For Two
For the second weekend in a row a UConn player has tallied an assist and a goal in a game with Jennifer Chaisson recording both against Colgate (Oct. 15). The game marked Chaisson's seventh of her career in which she has recorded at least one goal and one assist. Sophomore Maude Blain was the first Husky to post a goal and an assist this season, doing so against Clarkson (Oct. 9).
Garcia Closes In On 1,000
Alexandra Garcia's 38 saves last weekend brings her career save total to 991, fourth all-time in the UConn record book, needing just nine saves to reach 1,000. Garcia would be the fourth Husky to post 1,000 saves in her career, joining Brittany Wilson, Shannon Murphy and Kaitlyn Shain.
