Cats Fall To Keene, Seek Redemption On The Road
Weekend Recap
For the second time of the 2018-19 regular season, UVM was held without a goal as the #15 Catamounts fell to divisional rival and 8th-ranked Keene State College. Despite hurling 30 shots at the Owls' net, UVM could not break through as Keene goaltender Carlin Testa made several remarkable saves. Playing off-campus at The Ice Center in Waterbury, VT due to the blizzard, UVM and Keene failed to register a goal in the first period. After Keene banked a puck in off of Monty Cunningham, UVM quickly went on the offensive. Moments after Connor Bradley was stopped on a breakaway, Harrison Naylor made contact with the KSC goaltender, sparking fisticuffs after the whistle. Naylor and KSC defenseman Jake Clark each received major penalties for fighting and were suspended one game. After taking a 3-0 lead in the third period, Connor van Ryn was penalized for cross checking and received a one game suspension as well. Sophomore goaltender Monty Cunningham turned aside 37/41 in the loss.
Looking Ahead
Despite falling to 10-4-2-1, the Catamounts will have two opportunities to get back to their winning ways this weekend. On Friday, 1/25, UVM will travel south to Poughkeepsie, NY for a 9:15 PM game against Marist College. The Red Foxes, who qualified for the Northeast Regional Tournament in 2017-18, are coming off an 0-3-0 weekend at the Liberty University Showcase in Lynchburg, VA. Marist fell 11-3 to the University of Cincinnati, 6-3 to Liberty, and 7-5 to the University of Maryland. UVM will have their hands full against an always-competitive Marist team, especially with Naylor and van Ryn serving their one game suspensions.
On Saturday, 1/26, UVM will visit #1 UMass Amherst. The Minutemen, sporting a 13-4-1 record, did not play their scheduled game against Northeastern University on Sunday, 1/20 due to the blizzard. UVM and UMass last played on Sunday, 10/7 at Gutterson Fieldhouse. In that game, Monty Cunningham was incredible, turning aside 54 UMass shots in a 4-3 overtime loss. UVM will look for a similar performance against the top-ranked Minutemen as they attempt the climb back into the playoff race.
The schedule for this weekend's game is as follows:
Fri. 1/25, UVM @ Marist: 9:15 PM start time at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, NY
Sat. 1/26, UVM @ UMass: 6:00 PM start time at Mullins Center in Amherst, MA
