Women's Hockey Rally Falls Short at UConn, 'Cats Drop Playoff Opener, 3-2

Friday, February 26

Storrs, CT

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

16-14-5,12-10-3WHEA

University of Connecticut

11-23-1,8-17-0WHEA

UNH

UCONN

Sophomore defenseman Julia Fedeski scored UNH's first goal against UConn on Friday night.

Women's Hockey Rally Falls Short at UConn, 'Cats Drop Playoff Opener, 3-2

2/26/2016 10:30:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey

Box Score

STORRS, Conn. – Sophomore defenseman Julia Fedeski (Algonquin Highlands, Ont.) and sophomore forward Kate Haslett (Rothesay, New Brunswick) led a fierce rally, but the University of New Hampshire women's ice hockey team comeback came up just short in a 3-2 loss at the University of Connecticut on Friday night at the Freitas Ice Forum.

The Wildcats dropped the first game of the best-of-three Hockey East quarterfinal series to the Huskies. Game 2 is back at the Freitas Ice Forum on Saturday at 3 p.m. Game 3, if necessary, is Sunday at 3 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION
Date: Feb. 26, 2016 (7 p.m.)
Location: Freitas Ice Forum (Storrs, Conn.)
Attendance: 151
Score: University of Connecticut 3, University of New Hampshire 2
Updated Records: UNH (11-23-1, 8-16-0 WHEA), UConn (16-14-5, 11-10-3 WHEA)

Goal Scorers:
   UNH – Julia Fedeski, Kate Haslett
   UConn- Brittany Beresoff (2), Leah Buress

Goaltenders:
   UNH- Kyra Smith 7-7-X-14 (3 GA) (32:21) [loss], Vilma Vaattovaara (26:15) X-1-7-8
   UConn- Elaine Chuli 19-16-9 (2 GA) (60:00} [win]

Up Next: Hockey East Best-of-Three Quarterfinal Series
Game 2 – Saturday, Feb. 27 (3 p.m.) at UConn
Game 3 (if necessary) – Sunday, Feb. 28 (3 p.m.) at UConn

GAME RECAP

The Huskies extended their lead to 3-0 just after the midway point of the game.
Brittany Berisoff scored with 3:09 left in the first period to open the scoring.
Leah Buress pushed the lead to 2-0 at 9:38 of the second period.
The Huskies made it 3-0 at 12:21 of the second period on Berisoff's second goal of the game, this one on the power play.
UNH got one back when Julia Fedeski blasted a shot just under the crossbar to beat goalie Elaine Chuli with 2:06 left in the second period. Nicoline Jensen and Carlee Toews had assists.
The Wildcats pulled to within one on a Kate Haslett goal with 8:46 left in the third period. Sara Carlson and Taylor Wenczkowski assisted on the play.
Coach Hilary Witt pulled goalie Vilma Vaattovaara (Veikkola, Finland) for the last 1:24 of the game and UNH put all kinds of pressure on with the extra attacker, but could not come up with a tying goal.

WILDCAT NOTEBOOK

The Wildcats outshot the Huskies 46-25 for the game, including 19-8 in the first period.
It was the third time this year UNH put more than 40 shots on net.
Vaattovaara came on in relief of starting goalie Kyra Smith (Littleton, Colo.) after UConn's third goal.
Amy Boucher and Jonna Curtis combined to steal the puck in a shorthanded situation with 5:20 left to play in the third period. They broke in on Chuli and Boucher's shot went off the post.

ARMY ROTC THREE STARS OF THE GAME

Elaine Chuli, UConn
Brittany Berisoff, UConn
Leah Buress, UConn

PENALTIES
   New Hampshire: 5-10
   UConn: 3-6

POWER PLAYS
   New Hampshire: 0-3 (9 shots)
   UConn: 1-5 (4 shots)

NEW HAMPSHIRE LEADERS
Points (1): Julie Fedeski, Nicoline Jensen, Carlee Toews, Kate Haslett, Sara Carlson, Taylor Wenczkowski
Goals (1): Fedeski, Haslett
Assists (1): Jensen, Toews, Carlson, Wenczkowski
Shots (7): Jonna Curtis, Amy Boucher
Faceoffs Won (9): Amy Boucher

UCONN LEADERS
Points (3): Leah Buress
Goals (2): Brittany Berisoff
Assists (2): Buress
Shots (6): Berisoff
Faceoffs Won (15): Buress

Text UNH to 90561 to sign up for Sports alerts. Message & Data Rates May Apply.1 message/text. Consent to receive a text message is not a condition of purchasing goods or services. Text HELP to 90561 for info. STOP to cancel. T&Cs & Privacy Policy is available HERE.