By Gayle Simone
Senior goalie Chanda Gunn recorded her ninth career shutout in Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Vermont after giving up three goals in a 4-1 NU loss against St. Lawrence Saturday.
Freshman Marie Desrosiers gave NU the first period lead when she beat Vermont goalie Kami Cote with a power play goal off a face-off at 10:38. Sophomore Cyndy Kenyon got her second point of the season with an assist.
Freshman Jessica Coppney gave the Huskies the insurance goal at 14:20 of the third. Desrosiers earned her second point of the game with the assist. Sophomore Theresa Ella also earned an assist.
Gunn faced 25 shots in the victory and NU out-shot their host by 22 with the edge, 47-25. NU was shorthanded four times in the game, but strong defense and solid goaltending kept Vermont scoreless in the second game of the season. NU went 1- 4 on the power play.
Saturday at St. Lawrence was a completely different story.
The Saints opened scoring at the 13:42 mark of the first period when Sara Simard knocked in the rebound of a Christin Powers shot.
Sophomore Jennifer Beaudoin tied the game for the Huskies 11:12 into the second, with a shot in the left slot past Saints goalie Rachel Barrie. Kenyon assisted on the goal.
The Huskies and Saints skated in the 1-1 tie until 13:59 in the third, when Saints Laurie Ross beat Gunn on the short side for the eventual game winner after a give-and-go with teammate Emilie Berliguette off an NU turnover.
Rebecca Russell gave the Saints an insurance tally with a one-timer from Chelsea Grills at 18:29.
With 20 seconds left in the game, Kate Michael added an unassisted empty-net goal.
Both teams went 0-for-6 on the power play. The Saints outshot the Huskies 34-16 in the tilt.
The coaching staff of the Huskies is very pleased with the way the team performed in both games.
“We played a great game,” said NU coach Joy Woog. “We were in this game to the very end. We played two solid games and had a successful weekend.”
While NU scored one power play goal, the Huskies were short handed 10 times in the two games without giving up a single tally.
“We are very pleased with the penalty kill,” Woog said. “Special teams are very important. We will continue to work on them all season long.”
Woog said she was pleased with the puck movement on the power play. NU scored one goal on four power play attempts.
“Our power play is very young and they are still learning,” Woog said. “And they had some scoring opportunities.”
Next up for the Huskies is an away game against Providence College on Thursday at 7 p.m. Providence has been unanimously picked to win the Eastern Conference this year.
“They are a couple of years ahead of us in their program. They are taller and bigger,” Woog said. “They work hard and they are very physical and aggressive. If given the opportunity, they’re going to beat you.”
With a young team, Woog remains confident in her squad.
“Because we have such a young team, most of the players have not played against Providence,” Woog said. “I like our sort of innocence going into the game. I know our squad will give it their all and continue to play their game, skating hard and working together.”
Saturday, the Huskies travel to Quinnipiac in Connecticut for a 5 p.m. start in their final road game before the home opener on Nov. 1.
