New Hampshire Travels to Vermont for Weekend Series

GAME INFORMATION
New Hampshire (1-6-1, 1-5-0 Hockey East) at Vermont (1-4-2, 1-4-0 Hockey East)
Location: Gutterson Fieldhouse - Burlington, Vt.
Date: Friday, Nov. 2 \| Saturday, Nov. 3 \| 2 P.M. (both days) \| WATCH - LIVE STATS

DURHAM, N.H. - The University of New Hampshire women's ice hockey team, looking to end a five-game losing skid, travel to the University of Vermont for a two-game series Friday, November 2 and Saturday, November 3.

The Wildcats dropped the opening game of their three-game season series with the Catamounts, falling 2-1 at home on October 19 at the Whittemore Center.

The Series: New Hampshire vs. Vermont
   New Hampshire and Vermont have been battling in women's hockey since the 70s and 80s, and more frequently in the 2000s after the formation of Hockey East. UNH owns the all-time advantage with a 34-11-4 record against the Catamounts. In the last five meetings, the Wildcats are 2-2-1 against UVM.

Last Time Out:
   The Wildcats came off a tough weekend against border rival Maine and long-time ECAC rival Providence college. The Wildcats traveled up to Maine and found themselves down 2-0 early in the first. A rally was started by Meghara McManus (Milton, Mass.), tallying her first goal of the season, followed by freshman Paige Rynne (Ancaster, Ontario) tallying her first career goal to go into the first intermission tied.
   The 'Cats were down again in the third period, needing two goals to force overtime. With the goaltender pulled, the Wildcats netted the first goal needed, scored by Taylor Wenczkowski (Rochester, N.H.), but when trying to get the equalier with an empty net, the Black Bears took the puck and were able to score on the empty net to put the game back to a two-goal lead.
   The following Sunday, the Wildcats dominated the puck possession against Providence College, and outshot the Friars 30-19 in the contest. The Friars' last line of defense held off every shot, and a scrum in front of the UNH net resulted in a messy, game-winning goal for the Friars.

The State Of New Hampshire
- New Hampshire was picked seventh in the Hockey East preseason poll released on September 20th. The Wildcats finished fifth in Hockey East in the 2017-18 regular season.
- From last year's roster, the Wildcats return 20 players with six newcomers. Despite losing five starters, UNH returns their three top scorers from the 2017-18 season. The group of juniors Meghara McManus (Milton, Mass.), Carlee Turner (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and Taylor Wenczkowski (Rochester, N.H.) led the team last season with 20 points each.
- Also among those returning are goaltenders Ava Boutilier (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island) and Kyra Smith (Littleton, Colo.). Boutilier had a breakout season her freshman year, breaking the UNH record for saves made in a single season (886) and backstopped the 'Cats in 32 of their 36 games played last season. Boutilier finished her freshman season with a 12-13-7 record. Smith saw action in the other four starts last season with a 2-2-0 record, with big wins over Northeastern and UConn in which she made 29 and 27 saves, respectively.

Players to Watch
- Junior Nicole Dunbar (Coto De Caza, Calif.) leads the team with five points three goals and two assists. One of her goals this season has come on the power play.
- Two other Wildcats have tallied a second-best four points on the season: Freshman Lauren Martin (Cambridge, Ontario) and junior Carlee Turner (Scottsdale, Ariz.). Turner has one goal and three assists, her goal being UNH's first game-winner of the season, and Martin has tallied a team-leading four helpers on the season, two of which came in the home opener against UConn.
- Four Wildcats have all tallied three points on the year thusfar. Junior Tori Howran (Bancroft, Ontario) and sophomore Grace Middleton (Midland, Mich.) are two of said Wildcats, with one goal, two assists each.
- Senior Devan Taylor (North Billerica, Mass.) and junior Taylor Wenczkowski, both have three points on the season; Taylor also has one goal, two assists, while Wenczkowski has tallied three goals on the year.

Mind the Net
   Sophomore Ava Boutilier returns for her second season after setting a new record for saves in a single season (886) in her rookie season. Boutilier holds a 1-5-1 record so far in the 2018-19 season, with a .923 save% and a 2.28 GAA. She has made a total of 154 saves in her first five games.
   Senior Kyra Smith made her season debut against #9 Northeastern, making 30 saves and allowing just two goals in a 3-1 loss.

Scouting Vermont
- The Catamounts (Burlington, Vermont) hold a 1-4-2 record, a 1-4-0 Hockey East record, and are 0-2-2 at home.
-Vermont comes into the weekend off a loss 4-1 loss vs. Northeastern at home.
-The Catamounts are led by Ève-Audrey Picard who has tallied two goals and two assists this season. Following close behind is Olivia Kilberg with one goal and three assists.
-Sophomore Melissa Black has started six games in net for the Catamounts and has been the go to starter. She has made 132 saves with a .917 save percentage ad 2.24 goals against average. Freshman goaltender Blanka Skodova has started two games in net, made 51 saves on a .910 save percentage and 1.74 goals against average.

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Players Mentioned

Ava Boutilier

Nicole Dunbar

Tori Howran

Lauren Martin

Meghara McManus

Grace Middleton

Paige Rynne

Kyra Smith

Devan Taylor

Carlee Turner

Taylor Wenczkowski

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