Brown improved to 21-7-2 overall by defeating Yale 5-0 in the first round of the 2002 ECAC North tournament on Friday night at Meehan Auditorium.
The Bears lit up the scoreboard early, when freshman Jessica Link netted her fifth goal in three games at the 2:36 mark of the opening period. Senior Kristy Zamora and sophomore Katie Lafleur assisted on the goal. Brown went up 2-0 with just over five minutes left in the first, when freshman Kerry Nugent found Zamora, who netted her 29th goal of the season.
Zamora tallied her second goal of the night, slotting the puck past Yale goaltender Katie Hirte. Link and Meredith Ostrander were credited with the assists on the goal.
Brown opened the final period, scoring at the 3:31 mark. Sophomore Krissy McManus tipped in a rebound shot by Courtney Johnson. Johnson and Kim Insalaco earned the assists on the goal.
Jess Link recorded her second goal of the game, scoring at the 7:05 mark of the third period. Nugent and Lafleur assisted on Brown’s final goal.
Defensively the Bears were solid, killing off eight Yale power play chances. Junior Pam Dreyer stopped 17 shots in the game. Yale goaltender Katie Hirte had a sound performance in net for the Bulldogs, posting 55 saves.
Brown will play Yale in the second game of the series on Saturday at 7 p.m.
