University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Vermont
Huskies Blank Vermont, 2-0
11/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
Nov. 20, 2010
BURLINGTON, Vt. - Sami Evelyn (Nepean, Ont.) and Casey Knajdek (Woodbury, Minn.) each posted a goal for the University of Connecticut, while Alexandra Garcia (Pointe-Claire, Que.) tallied 23 saves as the Huskies posted their second shutout of the season at Vermont this afternoon, topping the Catamounts, 2-0.
With the win the Huskies are now 5-7-1 overall and 4-2-1 in Hockey East play, while Vermont falls to 1-5-7 and 0-5-4. The victory also marks the fourth straight for the Huskies, dating back to the 3-1 win over Maine on November 6.
Following a defensive first period in which Garcia made eight saves and Vermont's Roxanne Douville posted six, the Huskies and the Catamounts went into the first intermission with a 0-0 score on the board.
Both teams battled during the opening half of the second period before the Huskies were finally able to get on the board at the 15:27 mark, scoring on a five-on-three UConn power play. Evelyn posted her first goal of the season from Kelly Horan (Methuen, Mass.) and Rebecca Hewett (Oak Bluff, Man.) to give UConn the 1-0 lead that would hold until the end of the period.
Evelyn recorded the first goal with a hard snap shot into the upper left corner of the net after Horan found her in the slot. Hewett passed the puck up to Horan who was near the back of the net and was able to dish the puck to Evelyn for the eventual game-winner.
Knajdek gave UConn a two-goal lead nine minutes in to the final period when she put an unassisted shot past Douville for her second goal of the year. After a defensive turnover for Vermont, Knajdek took control of the puck and fired off a shot from the bottom of the right circle that hit the far post and deflected into the net.
Knajdek's goal would prove to be the final mark of the contest, as the Huskies came away with a 2-0 victory over the Catamounts.
The Huskies were a perfect 5-for-5 on the Vermont penalty kill during the game, while they were able to convert one of their own four penalty play opportunities.
Garcia ended the day with 23 saves, marking her second shutout of the season and the eighth of her career.
The Huskies will now take a break from Hockey East action and participate in the Nutmeg Classic hosted by Quinnipiac next weekend, opening the tournament against Yale at 7:00 p.m. on Friday (Nov. 26).
