The University of Maine would upset the #14 University of Vermont Catamounts in a two game sweep in women’s Hockey East play at Gutterson Fieldhouse in Burlington, Vermont on Friday and Saturday.
On Friday evening- Ida Kuoppala, Ashley Kokavec, and Alyssa Wruble each scored for Maine in a 3-0 win. Kuoppala had the eventual game winner 11:38 into the first period, assisted by Elise Morphy and Ava Stevenson. Kokavec and Wruble scored at 3:15 and 8:31 of the second respectively. Haley Ryan, Abby Latorella, Rahel Enzler, and Mira Seregely also all added one assist a piece. Julia Bachetti stopped all 19 shots in net for the Black Bears shutout. Sydney Correa had 26 saves in the loss for Vermont.
On Saturday afternoon- Kuoppala made it back to back games with a game winning goal, as she scored 7:55 into the third period to help Maine complete the sweep 3-2. Kuoppala opened the scoring at 9:17 of the first, before Vermont took their first lead of the weekend on goals from Hailey Eikos and Ezra Oien at 14:41 and 17:01. Ann-Fredrique Guay tied it for the Black Bears in the second period at 9:43 on the powerplay. Guay (one goal, one assist) and Enzler (two assists) both had two points along with the two goal effort by Kuoppala. Bachetti made 26 saves in the win. Eikos had a goal and an assist in the loss for the Catamounts, and Correa stopped 14 shots. UVM is now 6-6-1, 5-4-0 in Hockey East.
Maine improves to 6-8, 4-6 in conference play and have next week off before returning to action by hosting this same Vermont team on Friday, December 1 at 2 p.m.
Recaps by Chris Lessner
