.png&type=webp)
University of New Hampshire Athletics
University of New Hampshire
4-0-1
Niagara
1-2-2
#3 WOMEN'S HOCKEY SKATES TO 3-3 TIE VS. NIAGARA
10/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
|
| COURTNEY BIRCHARD |
DURHAM, N.H.
– Courtney Birchard (Mississauga, Ontario)
recorded a goal and an assist to lead the third-ranked University
of New Hampshire women's ice hockey team to a 3-3 tie against
Niagara University at the Whittemore Center on Saturday
afternoon.
UNH extended its unbeaten streak vs. the Purple Eagles to 15 games
(14-0-1) and is now 4-0-1 this season. Niagara is 1-2-2.
The Wildcats built a 3-0 advantage in the first period.
Paige Goloubef (Oakville, Ontario) recorded her
first collegiate point when she scored off a rebound in front of
the net at 6:18. Birchard carried the puck through the neutral zone
to the top of the right circle. Her slapshot sailed wide of the
near post and ricocheted to Goloubef in front.
Kristine Horn (Utica, Mich.) netted her third
goal of the season with a power-play tally at 12:42. Kelly
Cahill (Farmington Hills, Mich.), from the low slot,
batted the puck to the right post, where Micaela
Long (South Boston, Mass.) was denied by Niagara
goaltender Jenni Bauer. The puck rebounded to the left side,
however, where Horn shot the puck into the net.
Birchard struck 2:04 later to extend the lead to 3-0.
Kelly Paton (Woodstock, Ontario) advanced the puck
to Courtney Sheary (Melrose, Mass.) at the left
point, and Sheary swung the puck across to Birchard at the right
point. Birchard's shot caromed off the inside of the left
post and into the net.
UNH carried that three-goal lead and a 12-3 shot advantage into
the first intermission.
Niagara opened the second period on the power play and pulled
within 3-1 at 1:02 to mark the first power-play goal surrendered by
the Wildcats in 23 shorthanded situations this season. Frances
McPhail scored from a scrum in front of the net and Jennifer
MacLean was credited with an assist.
The Purple Eagles generated two other dangerous scoring
opportunities in the second stanza. With seven minutes on the
clock, a Niagara rush produced a shot by Jenna Hendrikx shot in the
low slot, but she was denied by UNH goalie Lindsey
Minton (Richardson, Texas). One minute later, NU caught
the 'Cats in a line change to spring Caitlin Jenkins behind
the defense. Jenkins didn't control the puck cleanly and her
shot from the slot was turned aside by Minton.
Niagara pulled even, 3-3, with goals 4:11 apart in the third
period. MacLean pulled the visitors within one goal at 11:40 when
she redirected Jocey Kleiber's shot from the right point into
the net. Mary McKinnon was credited with an assist on that
power-play goal.
Sarah Zacharias leveled the score when her blast from the right
half-boards eluded Minton and the puck trickled across the goal
line. Jenkins set up the game-tying goal.
In the closing minutes, Bauer kept the score deadlocked when she
stoned Sarah Cuthbert (East Falmouth, Mass.) at
the right post.
The Purple Eagles were whistled for a penalty at 1:30 of the five
minute overtime session. The 'Cats sustained pressure and
Paton was denied twice at the right post by Bauer during the
two-minute skater advantage.
In the waning seconds, UNH had possession in the offensive zone
and Birchard fired a shot from the high slot that sailed wide of
the left post.
The Wildcats recorded a 3-0 shot advantage in OT and had a 27-23
edge overall.
New Hampshire and Niagara conclude the weekend series Oct. 18 at
the Whittemore Center. Game time is 2 p.m.
