Hockey splits with Providence, gains league point

The UVM women's hockey game split a two-game set with the Providence Friars over the weekend.

Their 2-1 victory on Saturday night halted the Cats' winless streak.

The victory was also the first league win for the Catamounts this year (5-18-1, 1-9-1 Hockey East).

Despite being out-shot by the Friars 12-31, UVM took advantage of the few chances a stingy Providence defense allowed.

The game-winner, scored by freshman Celeste Doucet on a brilliant wrap-around shot, came with just 3:09 remaining in the game.

UVM goalie Kristen Olychuck had a superb game in the net. The sophomore stopped 30 of 31 shots and shut out the Friars after an early goal just 4:19 in to the first period.

The victory was the first ever for the Cats in the 15-game history between the two teams.

Though the Catamounts did not win Friday night's contest, their resilient effort in a 3-2 loss surely helped set up Saturday night's triumph.

UVM, playing from behind for much of the night, could not answer the Friars' final goal of the game, a one-timer from center ice by forward Katy Beach with just 8:41 remaining in the third period.

"I was pretty pleased with the effort tonight overall," head coach Tim Bothwell said. "We just need to really focus and concentrate on getting the puck to the net when we have an opportunity instead of trying to make a fancy play or holding onto the puck too long."

Early in the third period, the Cats pulled even for the second time of the night when Sarah Smiddy's wrap-around shot from behind the net trickled past the Providence goalie.

However, after Beach's goal, UVM could not find the equalizer, succumbing to the Friars in a nail-biter.

"I'm really proud of the way we stuck with it," Bothwell said. "After that bad early goal, lots of times in the past we kind of wilted when something like that happened but we kept playing with a lot of energy and a lot of effort."

The Cats will ride the momentum of a strong weekend effort in to Boston College next weekend for a two game set with the Eagles.