University of New Hampshire Athletics
University of New Hampshire
10-21-3
Northeastern University
12-16-5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Northeastern | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Wilkes' 40 Saves Backbones Women's Hockey to 2-1 Win at Northeastern, Leads Series 1-0
2/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
BOSTON – Ashley Wilkes (North Pole, Alaska) made 40 saves to backbone the University of New Hampshire women's ice hockey team to Friday night's 2-1 victory against Northeastern University at Matthews Arena. With the win, UNH leads the Hockey East best-of-three quarterfinal series, 1-0.
UNH, the No. 6 tourney seed by virtue of a 6-13-2 league record, improves to 10-21-3 overall. NU, the third seed with an 11-8-2 mark in Hockey East, is now 12-16-5. The teams continue the series Feb. 28 and play March 1 if necessary; both games begin at 2 p.m. at Matthews Arena.
Wilkes recorded double-digit saves all three periods (12-11-17) to record her second 40+ save performance of the season, and the 17 saves tied her career high for saves in a period.
Nicoline Jensen (Rodovre, Denmark) netted a power-play goal at 7:04 of the second period and Cassandra Vilgrain (Calgray, Alberta) broke a 1-1 tie 17 seconds into the final frame for what proved to be the game-winning goal.
NU goaltender Chloe Desjardins made 14 of her 33 saves in the first period. Lauren Kelly netted the Huskies' goal at 10:11 of the second stanza.
With the score tied 1-1 through 40 minutes, Vilgrain scored 17 seconds into the third period to put UNH back in front, 2-1. Vilgrain corralled a pass from Amy Boucher (Edmonton, Alberta) in the left circle, dangled across the slot toward the right post and lifted a shot into the net for her fifth goal of the season.
One minute later, Kelly's low, hard shot from the left faceoff dot was caught by Wilkes. In the third minute, Jensen skated onto a loose puck in the slot and fired a high shot into Desjardins' glove.
At 6:30, Heather Kashman (Edmonton, Alberta) collected a centering pass and her hard wrister was redirected away by Desjardins' blocker. One minute later, Vilgrain skated down the slot and shifted to the left post, but was denied by the NU goalie.
The Huskies quickly moved the puck through the neutral zone and Kendall Coyne's shot from the right faceoff dot was kicked out by Wilkes' left leg pad, and the UNH netminder also denied Coyne on the rebound.
NU went on its fourth power play of the game at 14:41 and Wilkes turned away McKenna Brand in the opening seconds of the skater advantage as well as Coyne's screened shot from the right circle in the waning seconds of the power play.
With 1:40 remaining in regulation, Sara Carlson (Hutchinson, Minn.) led a rush into the left circle and left a drop pass for Vilgrain. Hannah Armstrong (Keswick, Ontario) charged down the slot and, from the top of the crease, tipped Vilgrain's shot on net, but Desjardins made the stop.
The Huskies called time out with 1:26 to play and was whistled for icing six seconds later. NU won the ensuing faceoff and Desjardins went to the bench in favor of an extra skater with 49 seconds on the clock. Wilkes stopped shots off the sticks of Heather Mottau and Taytum Clairmont, and then another by Clairmont with 12 seconds left.
The puck was cleared to the neutral zone and, from mid-ice in front of the UNH bench, Vilgrain dumped the puck into the attack zone with eight seconds left to secure the victory.
New Hampshire opened the second period with 33 seconds remaining on a power play and Amy Schlagel (Blaine, Minn.) blasted a slap shot from the high slot that ricocheted off the right post. The puck was cycled back to her and this time her slapper was knocked down by Desjardins.
In the third minute, Armstrong collected an outlet pass and skated into the right circle. Her shot handcuffed Desjardins, but she made the save and cleared away the rebound from the crease.
The Wildcats, who never held a lead vs. the Huskies in three regular-season matchups, took a 1-0 lead at 7:04. Caroline Broderick (Marblehead, Mass.) gathered a loose puck deep on the right side and her point-blank shot was stopped by Desjardins. The rebound, however, went to the top of the crease where Jensen shoveled the puck into the open left side of the net.
NU tied the score, 1-1, at 10:11 while both teams had a skater in the penalty box. Denisa Krizova's pass from the right circle found Kelly alone in front, and she one-timed a shot into the open cage.
At 11:30 of the second stanza, Coyne was denied by the pipe for the second time in the game when her shot from the left circle caromed off the crossbar.
The Wildcats recorded a 14-12 shot advantage in the scoreless first period and they created the first dangerous scoring chance of the game when a Jess Ryan (Cloquet, Minn.) slap shot from the left point was tipped over the crossbar by Jonna Curtis (Elk River, Minn.) in the low slot.
In the third minute, UNH lost possession when entering attack zone and the Huskies quickly counterattacked as Kendall Coyne ripped a shot from the left circle off the pipe. Moments later, Halle Silva led a rush on the left wing and snapped a shot that Wilkes snared with her glove.
At 5:15 of the first, Curtis' backhander from the right doorstep was stopped by Desjardins. Two minutes later, there was a scrum in front of UNH's cage and Chelsey Goldberg had two whacks at the puck but Wilkes kept the puck out of the net to eep the game scoreless.
In the ninth minute, Ryan's blast from the top of the left circle was knocked down by Desjardins, who also stoned Vilgrain off the rebound at the left post. One minute later, Vilgrain came off the right half-boards and split a pair of defenders to get to the slot before lifting a shot into the NU goalie.
The Huskies quickly countered with Coyne slipping a pass to Krizova through the neutral zone. Krizova skated down the slot and was stopped by Wilkes at the right doorstep.
Vilgrain generated another scoring opportunity at 12:10 when she led a 2-on-1 rush on the right wing and her rising shot was knocked down by Desjardins. Two minutes later, Curtis raced onto a loose puck in the neutral zone to enter the attack zone with speed and sidestepped a defender to get to the slot before wristing a shot wide right.
Northeastern went on the first power play of the game at 13:49 and generated three shots, including one by Coyne at the left doorstep. UNH also produced a dangerous shorthanded bid when Armstrong led a 2-on-1 rush on the left wing. She saucered a pass across to Vilgrain, who shot wide of the far post.
With 1:12 remaining in the opening stanza, the 'Cats had a 5-on-3 power play for 67 seconds and recorded four shots but could not break the scoreless tie.
New Hampshire is now 2-0 in Hockey East postseason play vs. Northeastern; the Wildcats previously won 5-0 in a 2004 semifinal game. UNH had lost seven straight in the series dating back to a 3-1 road win in December 2012.
