Box Score

Stephanie Gavronsky and Rachel Llanes potted goals for the Huskies, but two goals in 25 seconds by UConn sealed itself a 4-2 victory on Saturday afternoon at Matthews Arena.

Leah Sulyma got the start on Senior Day and looked sharp as she made 33 saves for NU. Llanes had her second straight multi-point contest with a goal and assist. Sonia St. Martin and Dani Rylan also notched points for the second straight game.

Despite the defeat, Northeastern has clinched a playoff spot and can finish as high as fifth place in the Hockey East standings. UConn clinched home ice with its victory this afternoon and will finish in fourth place regardless of what happens tomorrow.

After two scoreless periods, Connecticut struck first when Kiana Nauheim tallied her first collegiate goal at the 6:41 mark of the third period. Sami Evelyn and Jocelyn Slattery each added an assist.

A little over three minutes passed before Northeastern evened the game. Freshman forward Claire Santostefano blasted the puck from the center point, only to have it stopped by Alexandra Garcia (33 saves). However, Gavronsky raced in to backhand the rebound home before Garcia had a chance to react. For Gavronsky, it was her fifth goal of the season; the junior defenseman now has a point in five of her last six games. Santostefano picked up her 11th assist of the season with Llanes supplying the secondary helper, her team-leading 15th of the year.

NU wasn't done yet, as the Huskies took the lead at the 12:17 mark of the third period. Rylan took a shot from the top of the left faceoff circle. Garcia made the initial save, but Llanes crashed the net and buried the rebound for her 12th goal of the season. Rylan added her seventh assist of the season while St. Martin tallied her fourth assist of the year.

UConn battled back, however, and tied the game with 4:57 remaining in regulation. Jody Sydor chipped the puck from her defensive end into the neutral zone, where Kelly Horan corralled the puck. Horan slid a pass to Taylor Gross, who skated in on Sulyma and was able to beat the senior netminder for her 12th goal of the season.

Twenty-five seconds later, Connecticut took the lead when Jennifer Chaisson got the puck behind the Northeastern net and fired a pass to the front of the net where Slattery was waiting to deposit her fourth goal of the season.

Head coach Dave Flint pulled Sulyma in the final minute in favor of an extra attacker, but Evelyn capped the scoring when she forced a turnover in the neutral zone and potted her fourth of the season into the empty net. It is the first empty net goal the Huskies have allowed all season.

Northeastern killed off all three power play attempts it faced. The Husky penalty killed has stymied 35 of the last 38 power plays that have come its way.

The Huskies will look to secure fifth place in the final game of the regular season tomorrow afternoon when they travel to Storrs, Connecticut to conclude the home-and-home series with UConn. Puck drop is scheduled for 1 p.m.