Freshman Alyssa Holmes had the game of her young collegiate career, including her first two NCAA goals, as Vermont dumped host Minnesota, 4-2.
“I just tried to use my speed and get past them and shoot,” Holmes said.
The Burlington, Ont., native had the primary assist on the first goal for the Catamounts (6-13-4, 3-9-3 HE), and her three-point game exceeded her production through her previous 22 contests.
“I think our freshmen forwards are starting to adjust to college hockey,” coach Jim Plumer said. “That first weekend and the early part of the season, they were a little bit deer in the headlights. She’s a good player, and she’s fast, and I figured it was going to come sooner or later, and I’m glad it came sooner.”
The first 13 minutes of the contest were even, if uneventful, but when matching minors were assessed and the teams skated four-on-four, Taylor Flaherty’s shot from the blue line found its way past a screened Sidney Peters to give the visitors a 1-0 lead at the 14:20 mark. In the final minute, Eve-Audrey Picard banged in a loose puck and the Gophers (16-6-2, 10-4-2-0 WCHA) were in trouble.
“I think our team has been working hard in practice, our passes and stuff,” Holmes said. “We’ve been working so hard, and I think it paid off.”
The coach on the other bench didn’t see the same effort.
“The first period, one reason or other, we didn’t have the jump that I expect us to have when we came out of the chute,” Minnesota coach Brad Frost said. “They get a couple there and get the lead and never look back.”
Holmes tallied for the first time six minutes into the middle session, and Peters’ night was over.
“The third one hurt,” Frost said. “When you’re down two, it’s a little different than when you’re down three, and being down three is better than being down four.”
That’s where Minnesota found itself midway through the game when Holmes scored unassisted on a rush. The Gophers squandered five straight power-play opportunities, including an extended five-on-three, and didn’t gain any momentum until they killed off a major penalty of their own in the third period.
“We’ve got to play 60 minutes,” Frost said. “We’ve got to play with more passion and desire.”
Nicole Schammel ruined Sydney Scobee’s shutout bid with five-plus minutes left, and Sydney Baldwin drew Minnesota within two with an extra-attacker goal with 73 seconds remaining, but Scobee finished with 24 saves to earn the win.
“Things are not always what they appear,” Plumer said. “I know what our record is, but we’ve been playing pretty well and just haven’t been able to score.”
Tell that to the Gophers.
