VA Wins DII Top 10 Matchup

The Wildcats hosted The Gunnery School for a top ten NEPSAC DII matchup. It was their second meeting this season, the first resulting in a 3-3 Tie at the Union College Invitational Tournament. Skodova earned the start between the pipes for VA, her second straight and eighth of the season.

The first period the Highlanders came out fast, getting a couple quick shots on net. The Wildcats fought back, calmed the puck down, and went to work. Halfway into the first period Chloe Aurard ’18 picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone skated down the left side of the ice past a Gunnery defenseman, shot and beat the goalie just under her glove, for her 24^th goal of the season. VA continued to battle the remainder of the period and headed to the locker room up one.

Vermont started the second period on a penalty kill. However, that did not stop Aurard as she blocked a Gunnery shot, took off on a breakaway and deked the goalie. Gunnery responded three minutes later off of a defensive zone faceoff. Again the Wildcats did not give up, everyone dug deep and continued to battle. VA drew a penalty ten minutes into the second and scored on the ensuing power play. Jaz Creamer ’21 redirected an Aurard shot that was going to miss the net, for her second in two games. Lotti Odnoga ’18 was credited with the second assist. The period ended with VA leading 3-1.

The third period was a grind just like the first two. It was filled with back and forth play with neither teams giving each other an inch. Gunnery scored first in the third on a power play at 10:24, but that did not stop the Wildcats. They continued to fight, created some scoring opportunities and tightened up on defense. In the last minute of the game, Gunnery pulled their goalie. However, those efforts were not enough as Aurard collected the puck skated into the neutral zone and took a shot that trickled into the net to complete her hat trick, and secure the game for the Wildcats.

Skodova finished the game with 34 saves on 36 shots. Vermont will face off against Gunnery again on Wednesday, February 14 at 4:30 pm in Washington, CT. This weekend the Wildcats will take the road, as they head to Pingree School in South Hamilton, MA on Friday for a 6:00 pm puck drop.