Curtis' Three Points Propels Women's Ice Hockey Past Maine, 5-1

Saturday, January 23

Orono, Maine

2 PM

University of New Hampshire

9-16-1, 6-10-0

University of Maine

7-17-2, 3-13-1

New Hampshire

Maine

Curtis' Three Points Propels Women's Ice Hockey Past Maine, 5-1

1/23/2016 8:46:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey

Box Score

ORONO, Maine – Jonna Curtis (Elk River, Minn.) recorded a goal and two assists to lead the University of New Hampshire women's ice hockey team to Saturday afternoon's 5-1 victory against the University of Maine at Alfond Arena.

UNH, which recorded a 53-22 shot advantage that included 35-9 through two periods, improves to 9-16-1 overall and 6-10-0 in Hockey East. Maine is now 7-17-2, 3-13-1.

UNH and Maine conclude the weekend series Jan. 24 (2 p.m.) at Alfond Arena. The Wildcats' next home game is Feb. 5 (7 p.m.) against the University of Vermont. Tickets for that game and all women's hockey home games are available online at www.unhwildcats.com or by calling (603) 862-4000.

Curtis matched her career high of two assists and season high of three points while Amy Boucher (Edmonton, Alberta) tallied two points with a goal and an assist. Both Boucher and Curtis have four-game point streaks following those multiple-point efforts.

Cassandra Vilgrain (Calgary, Alberta), Margo Lund (St. Paul, Minn.) and Amy Schlagel (Blaine, Minn.) scored UNH's other goals. Four other 'Cats – Sara Carlson (Hutchinson, Minn.), Nicoline Jensen (Rodovre, Denmark), Marie-Jo Pelletier (Dalhousie, New Brunswick) and Carlee Toews (Grand Prairie, Alberta) – tallied an assist.

Kyra Smith (Littleton, Colo.) made 12 of her 21 saves in the third period. Maine counterpart Meghann Treacy recorded double-digit saves all three periods (12-21-15) to finish with 48. Audra Richards netted a power-play goal with 6:39 remaining in regulation to spoil Smith's bid for her first career shutout.

UNH recorded a 12-4 shot advantage in the scoreless first period. The Wildcats generated a 3-1 edge in the opening five minutes as Curtis recorded the first two shots of the game and then Smith denied UM's Jessica Vallotton before action returned to the other end of the ice and Lund was stopped by Treacy.

Just past the midway point of the opening stanza, Curtis skated in from the left circle to a loose puck in the slot and she swept a dangerous, low shot into Treacy. The 'Cats recorded a 7-1 shot advantage the remainder of the first period. With five minutes on the clock, the 'Cats created another scoring opportunity as Boucher was denied deep on the right wind and Curtis was stoned off the rebound in front.

Curtis gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead at 2:50 of the second stanza as she initiated the scoring sequence with possession behind the net and finished a feed from Boucher for her team-leading 13^th goal of the season.

Minutes later, Lund was stopped by Treacy not once or twice but three times in succession to keep the margin at one goal. UNH continued to carry play play and peppered Treacy with nine more shots before Vilgrain extended the advantage to 2-0 at 12:41 when she advanced along the left end line and slipped a shot inside the near post. Curtis and Carlson set up the tally.

The 'Cats continued to swarm in the offensive zone and outshot the hosts 7-2 the last seven minutes of the second stanza to take a 2-0 lead into the second intermission.

New Hampshire potted goals 38 seconds apart to quickly transform a two-goal lead into a 4-0 advantage. Lund struck first as she skated deep on the left side and her centering pass from the doorstep deflected off a Maine defender's skate into the goal at 8:05. Vilgrain, with the assistance of Curtis and Pelletier, scored top-shelf at 8:43.

Maine began to gain momentum midway through the third, but Smith fended off the early wave with saves against Brooke Stacey and Mikayla Rogers. She also denied Nicole Arnold in the 12^th minute before Maine went on the power play at 11:35.

The Black Bears sustained pressure, but Smith stopped four shots to keep the shutout intact. Richards ended that, however, with a power-play goal at 13:21. Jillian Langtry and Victoria Hummel set up the tally.

UNH regained momentum with three shots on goal the next two minutes, then the 'Cats went on another power play at 15:14. It was a short-lived power play, however, as the Wildcats were sent to the penalty box for slashing at 15:53.

Treacy was pulled in favor of an extra skater but reentered the game 14 seconds later. Smith denied Emilie Brigham and Richards in the 17^th minute to keep the advantage at three goals. The Black Bears returned to full strength at 17:14 and Treacy returned to the bench six seconds later.

New Hampshire returned to full strength at 17:53 and Schlagel, from the right doorstep, secured the win with an empty-net goal at 18:06. Jensen was credited with an assist.

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