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University of New Hampshire Athletics
Saturday, January 26
Durham, N.H.
2 PM
University of New Hampshire
vs
Holy Cross
Lauren Martin (Photo by Michelle Bronner)
Wildcats Battle Crusaders in Weekend Tilt
1/25/2019 11:47:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
The home-and-home series begins Saturday in Durham for the Hockey Fights Cancer game.
DURHAM, N.H. - The University of New Hampshire women's ice hockey team finds itself back in the playoff race after splitting its weekend series with Providence last weekend, bouncing back from a 4-0 loss on Friday with a 5-0 win of their own on Saturday.
The Wildcats begin a home-and-home series with the Holy Cross Crusaders, the first of which will be the Hockey Fights Cancer game at the Whittemore Center Saturday, January 26 at 2 P.M. For tickets, visit UNHWildcats.com or call (603) 862-4000.
The Wildcats and the Crusaders meet in the second game of the weekend series on Sunday, January 27 at 1:05 P.M. on NESN.
UNH is coming off its second win over a ranked opponent this season, which snapped a three-game losing skid. Holy Cross most recently faced off with Boston University, dropping the two-game weekend series with the Terriers.
The Series: New Hampshire vs. Holy Cross
The newest team in women's Hockey East, the Holy Cross Crusaders, has faced New Hampshire just two times in the team's history; the two teams met last season for the first time ever, a 9-1 victory for the Wildcats at home. This season the two teams faced off at the Hart Center in Worcester, back in November. UNH defeated Holy Cross 4-1 in that game, kicking off its historic nine-game unbeaten streak.
Last Time Out:
The Wildcats faced the #9 Providence Friars in a two-game series this past Friday and Saturday. In game one on Friday, the Friars got the scoring started in the second period and didn't look back, as they shut out the Wildcats 4-0.
New Hampshire bounced back with a shutout victory of its own, tallying five goals against the Friars for UNH's second victory over a ranked opponent this season. Taylor Wenczkowsi (Rochester, N.H.) tallied two goals in the contest and senior captain Kyra Smith (Littleton, Colo.) tallied a career-high 41 saves in her second shutout of the season. The game-winning goal went to senior Devan Taylor (North Billerica, Mass.), her second of the season, which came on a power play in the second period.
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.
- The 'Cats started off the season with an even 1-1-1 record after their home opener, losing and tying to #10 St. Lawrence to open the season, then beating UConn 5-3 to open up Hockey East play 1-0 for the first time since 2010-11.
- The Wildcats then faced a nine-game winless streak, facing ranked foe Northeastern in their three-game season series, and going 0-2-1 against Vermont.
- UNH snapped their winless drought with a 4-1 victory over Holy Cross just before Thanksgiving break.
- From that Holy Cross victory, the Wildcats then went on a nine game unbeaten streak (7-0-2) with wins over conference foes Merrimack and Boston College, and ECAC foes Dartmouth, Rensselaer and Yale.
- The unbeaten streak included two straight come-from-behind third period rallies, trailing 2-1 against Boston College (won 3-2) and trailing 3-2 at Yale (won 4-3).
- The Wildcats had their unbeaten streak snapped in mid-January by the UConn Huskies, who took the season series 2-1-0.
Players to Watch
- Junior forward Taylor Wenczkowski now leads the team in points after a red-hot January where she has tallied a team-high five goals so far. She holds the team-lead in goals with 12, with four power play goals, three game-winning goals, and a short-handed goal, and a team-high 16 points. Wenczkowski holds the longest point streak of the season for UNH, seven points in four games, and leads the team in game-winning goals with three.
- Fellow junior Nicole Dunbar (Coto de Caza, Calif.)has 13 points for the Wildcats, with seven assists, the third-highest tally on the team, and six goals.
- Junior Meghara McManus (Milton, Mass.) and senior Marie-Jo Pelletier (Dalhousie, New Brunswick) are both tied for third on the team with 12 points. McManus had a two-point performance against #9 Providence in the 5-0 victory, while Pelletier tallied her team-high ninth assist in that same contest.
- Freshman Lauren Martin (Cambridge, Ontario) is also at nine assists on the year, in a three-way tie for fourth in scoring with 11 points on the year.
- Junior Tori Howran is also at 11 points with three goals and eight assists on the year. Two of her three goals have come on the power play.
- Junior Carlee Turner (Scottsdale, Ariz.) rounds out the scoring juniors, also with 11 points on five goals, six assists.
- Senior Devan Taylor (North Billerica, Mass.) rounds out the top scoreres with 10 points on five goals, five assists. She has three power play goals and two game-winning goals on the year.
Mind the Net
Senior captain Kyra Smith (Littleton, Colo.) has been the go-to starter in net for UNH and has a 8-5-2 record since taking the starting job. Overall this season she has a .937 save% and a 1.88 GAA for a 8-7-2 record.
Sophomore Ava Boutilier (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island) returned for her second season after setting a new record for saves in a single season (886) in her rookie year. Boutilier held a 1-5-2 record this season, with a .924 save% and a 2.23 GAA, before her season was cut short due to injury.
Super Juniors
The three of the top four scorers for the Wildcats are redshirt junior Taylor Wenczkowski, and true juniors Nicole Dunbar and Meghara McManus. This season they have tallied 26 of UNH's 51 goals and 41 of UNH's 128 points.
The top-five scoring juniors also adds in Carlee Turner and Tori Howran. Those five juniors have tallied 34 goals (67% of team total) and 63 points (49% of team total.)
Rheault Goes to the Pride
Senior defender Jenna Rheault (Deering, N.H.) was selected 25th overall by the Boston Pride in the 2018 NWHL draft on Thursday, December 20, 2018. She becomes the third active Wildcat to be drafted to an NWHL team.
For the 2017-18 season, Rheault was awarded the team's Sue Merz 7th Player award for her clutch defensive play in key situations and on the penalty kill. Rheault was a crucial member of the Wildcats' penalty kill that only allowed 23 power-play goals in the 2017-18 season.
"I am very proud of Jenna," says head coach Hilary Witt. "She is a great person, teammate and hockey player. Her work ethic and commitment to excellence on the ice, in the weight room and in the classroom has propelled her to this achievement."
Wenczkowski Wins Weekly Honors
For her two-goal performance against #10 Boston College, Taylor Wenczkowski was named the Hockey East Player of the Week on Monday, January 7th. The honor is UNH's first weekly award all season, and the first weekly award for Wenczkowski in her career.
Smith Stops Them All
For her 41-save shutout over #9 Providence, along with her 22-save performance in Friday's loss, Kyra Smith was named Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, January 21. It was Smith's fifth career weekly accolade from the Hockey East conference, and UNH's second of the year.
Down (A Player) But Not Out
When playing on the penalty kill this season, the Wildcats have stopped 90.1% of opponent's power play attempts, tied for fourth-best in the nation. The Wildcats have allowed just eight power play goals this season, on 81 attempts.
Goalies Are Skaters, Too
Kyra Smith is the first UNH goaltender to record a point since Lindsey Minton in the 2010-11 season. Smith assisted on the game-winning goal at Yale, as she sent her save to Taylor Wenczkowski, who passed up-ice to Lauren Martin, who then sent a drop-pass back to Wenczkowski for the goal.
Lindsey Minton's assist came in a 4-1 victory over Union on October 16, 2010. She was the lone assist on an empty-net goal.
Historic Streak
The Wildcats were unbeaten through a nine game stretch, having not lost from November 10, 2018 at #6 Northeastern up until January 11th at UConn. They had a 7-0-2 record in that stretch, which was the longest unbeaten streak for the team since the 2007-08 season, when they went unbeaten through 19 games on their way to the women's Frozen Four.
In the streak, the Wildcats outscored opponents 27-15, led by Taylor Wenczkowski who had seven goals and four assists in the streak. Meghara McManus had five goals, two assists in the streak, and was one of four Wildcats with seven points in the streak. Tori Howran had a team-high six assists during the run.
In net, Kyra Smith made 220 saves and allowed just 15 goals, for a .936 save% and 1.64 GAA.
Scouting Holy Cross
- The Crusaders (Worcester, Mass.) come into the weekend off a two-game series with Boston University.
- Holy Cross is 1-21-3 overall on the season, 1-17-1 in its first season of Hockey East play.
- The lone win for the Crusaders this season came at home against #5 Northeastern, in a 5-3 come-from-behind victory.
- The Crusaders are led by junior Rachel Moore, who holds the team lead for goals with six. She leads the team in points with 11, with five assists.
- Five Crusaders have five or more assists on the season; the team-leader is freshman Carlie Magier, who has six.
- In net, Holy Cross has looked to freshman Jada Brenon in 14 starts; she holds a .892 save percentage, 3.96 goals-against average, and 1-11-2 record on the year.
- In the other 11 starts, the Crusaders started Julia Pelletier, who has a .875 save%, 4.89 GAA, and a 0-10-1 record.
-- unh --
The Wildcats begin a home-and-home series with the Holy Cross Crusaders, the first of which will be the Hockey Fights Cancer game at the Whittemore Center Saturday, January 26 at 2 P.M. For tickets, visit UNHWildcats.com or call (603) 862-4000.
The Wildcats and the Crusaders meet in the second game of the weekend series on Sunday, January 27 at 1:05 P.M. on NESN.
UNH is coming off its second win over a ranked opponent this season, which snapped a three-game losing skid. Holy Cross most recently faced off with Boston University, dropping the two-game weekend series with the Terriers.
The Series: New Hampshire vs. Holy Cross
The newest team in women's Hockey East, the Holy Cross Crusaders, has faced New Hampshire just two times in the team's history; the two teams met last season for the first time ever, a 9-1 victory for the Wildcats at home. This season the two teams faced off at the Hart Center in Worcester, back in November. UNH defeated Holy Cross 4-1 in that game, kicking off its historic nine-game unbeaten streak.
Last Time Out:
The Wildcats faced the #9 Providence Friars in a two-game series this past Friday and Saturday. In game one on Friday, the Friars got the scoring started in the second period and didn't look back, as they shut out the Wildcats 4-0.
New Hampshire bounced back with a shutout victory of its own, tallying five goals against the Friars for UNH's second victory over a ranked opponent this season. Taylor Wenczkowsi (Rochester, N.H.) tallied two goals in the contest and senior captain Kyra Smith (Littleton, Colo.) tallied a career-high 41 saves in her second shutout of the season. The game-winning goal went to senior Devan Taylor (North Billerica, Mass.), her second of the season, which came on a power play in the second period.
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.
- The 'Cats started off the season with an even 1-1-1 record after their home opener, losing and tying to #10 St. Lawrence to open the season, then beating UConn 5-3 to open up Hockey East play 1-0 for the first time since 2010-11.
- The Wildcats then faced a nine-game winless streak, facing ranked foe Northeastern in their three-game season series, and going 0-2-1 against Vermont.
- UNH snapped their winless drought with a 4-1 victory over Holy Cross just before Thanksgiving break.
- From that Holy Cross victory, the Wildcats then went on a nine game unbeaten streak (7-0-2) with wins over conference foes Merrimack and Boston College, and ECAC foes Dartmouth, Rensselaer and Yale.
- The unbeaten streak included two straight come-from-behind third period rallies, trailing 2-1 against Boston College (won 3-2) and trailing 3-2 at Yale (won 4-3).
- The Wildcats had their unbeaten streak snapped in mid-January by the UConn Huskies, who took the season series 2-1-0.
Players to Watch
- Junior forward Taylor Wenczkowski now leads the team in points after a red-hot January where she has tallied a team-high five goals so far. She holds the team-lead in goals with 12, with four power play goals, three game-winning goals, and a short-handed goal, and a team-high 16 points. Wenczkowski holds the longest point streak of the season for UNH, seven points in four games, and leads the team in game-winning goals with three.
- Fellow junior Nicole Dunbar (Coto de Caza, Calif.)has 13 points for the Wildcats, with seven assists, the third-highest tally on the team, and six goals.
- Junior Meghara McManus (Milton, Mass.) and senior Marie-Jo Pelletier (Dalhousie, New Brunswick) are both tied for third on the team with 12 points. McManus had a two-point performance against #9 Providence in the 5-0 victory, while Pelletier tallied her team-high ninth assist in that same contest.
- Freshman Lauren Martin (Cambridge, Ontario) is also at nine assists on the year, in a three-way tie for fourth in scoring with 11 points on the year.
- Junior Tori Howran is also at 11 points with three goals and eight assists on the year. Two of her three goals have come on the power play.
- Junior Carlee Turner (Scottsdale, Ariz.) rounds out the scoring juniors, also with 11 points on five goals, six assists.
- Senior Devan Taylor (North Billerica, Mass.) rounds out the top scoreres with 10 points on five goals, five assists. She has three power play goals and two game-winning goals on the year.
Mind the Net
Senior captain Kyra Smith (Littleton, Colo.) has been the go-to starter in net for UNH and has a 8-5-2 record since taking the starting job. Overall this season she has a .937 save% and a 1.88 GAA for a 8-7-2 record.
Sophomore Ava Boutilier (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island) returned for her second season after setting a new record for saves in a single season (886) in her rookie year. Boutilier held a 1-5-2 record this season, with a .924 save% and a 2.23 GAA, before her season was cut short due to injury.
Super Juniors
The three of the top four scorers for the Wildcats are redshirt junior Taylor Wenczkowski, and true juniors Nicole Dunbar and Meghara McManus. This season they have tallied 26 of UNH's 51 goals and 41 of UNH's 128 points.
The top-five scoring juniors also adds in Carlee Turner and Tori Howran. Those five juniors have tallied 34 goals (67% of team total) and 63 points (49% of team total.)
Rheault Goes to the Pride
Senior defender Jenna Rheault (Deering, N.H.) was selected 25th overall by the Boston Pride in the 2018 NWHL draft on Thursday, December 20, 2018. She becomes the third active Wildcat to be drafted to an NWHL team.
For the 2017-18 season, Rheault was awarded the team's Sue Merz 7th Player award for her clutch defensive play in key situations and on the penalty kill. Rheault was a crucial member of the Wildcats' penalty kill that only allowed 23 power-play goals in the 2017-18 season.
"I am very proud of Jenna," says head coach Hilary Witt. "She is a great person, teammate and hockey player. Her work ethic and commitment to excellence on the ice, in the weight room and in the classroom has propelled her to this achievement."
Wenczkowski Wins Weekly Honors
For her two-goal performance against #10 Boston College, Taylor Wenczkowski was named the Hockey East Player of the Week on Monday, January 7th. The honor is UNH's first weekly award all season, and the first weekly award for Wenczkowski in her career.
Smith Stops Them All
For her 41-save shutout over #9 Providence, along with her 22-save performance in Friday's loss, Kyra Smith was named Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, January 21. It was Smith's fifth career weekly accolade from the Hockey East conference, and UNH's second of the year.
Down (A Player) But Not Out
When playing on the penalty kill this season, the Wildcats have stopped 90.1% of opponent's power play attempts, tied for fourth-best in the nation. The Wildcats have allowed just eight power play goals this season, on 81 attempts.
Goalies Are Skaters, Too
Kyra Smith is the first UNH goaltender to record a point since Lindsey Minton in the 2010-11 season. Smith assisted on the game-winning goal at Yale, as she sent her save to Taylor Wenczkowski, who passed up-ice to Lauren Martin, who then sent a drop-pass back to Wenczkowski for the goal.
Lindsey Minton's assist came in a 4-1 victory over Union on October 16, 2010. She was the lone assist on an empty-net goal.
Historic Streak
The Wildcats were unbeaten through a nine game stretch, having not lost from November 10, 2018 at #6 Northeastern up until January 11th at UConn. They had a 7-0-2 record in that stretch, which was the longest unbeaten streak for the team since the 2007-08 season, when they went unbeaten through 19 games on their way to the women's Frozen Four.
In the streak, the Wildcats outscored opponents 27-15, led by Taylor Wenczkowski who had seven goals and four assists in the streak. Meghara McManus had five goals, two assists in the streak, and was one of four Wildcats with seven points in the streak. Tori Howran had a team-high six assists during the run.
In net, Kyra Smith made 220 saves and allowed just 15 goals, for a .936 save% and 1.64 GAA.
Scouting Holy Cross
- The Crusaders (Worcester, Mass.) come into the weekend off a two-game series with Boston University.
- Holy Cross is 1-21-3 overall on the season, 1-17-1 in its first season of Hockey East play.
- The lone win for the Crusaders this season came at home against #5 Northeastern, in a 5-3 come-from-behind victory.
- The Crusaders are led by junior Rachel Moore, who holds the team lead for goals with six. She leads the team in points with 11, with five assists.
- Five Crusaders have five or more assists on the season; the team-leader is freshman Carlie Magier, who has six.
- In net, Holy Cross has looked to freshman Jada Brenon in 14 starts; she holds a .892 save percentage, 3.96 goals-against average, and 1-11-2 record on the year.
- In the other 11 starts, the Crusaders started Julia Pelletier, who has a .875 save%, 4.89 GAA, and a 0-10-1 record.
-- unh --
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