Box Score  | Season Stats | Post-game Interview

STORRS, Conn. – The Northeastern women's hockey team (8-12-2, 4-6-2 HEA) snapped a four-game winless streak with a 3-1 victory over Connecticut on Wednesday night at the Freitas Ice Forum. Brittany Esposito (Edmonton, Alberta), Katie MacSorley (Stratford, Ontario) and Heather Mottau (Milton, Mass.) scored for the Huskies, who extended their winning streak over UConn to eight straight games.

Junior Chloe Desjardins (Saint-Prosper, Quebec) continued her stellar play in goal, making 34 saves to earn her eighth victory of the season. The reigning Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week held UConn (5-15-2, 2-6-1 HEA) off the scoresheet for the first 58 minutes, before Sarah MacDonnell spoiled the shutout bid with 1:34 remaining in the third period. 

After a quiet opening frame, both teams generated quality scoring chances in the second stanza. UConn was first to threaten as Rebecca Fleming tested Desjardins with a close-range shot after a bouncing puck skittered out of the corner and onto her stick in front. Northeastern then nearly went in front on the power play when Esposito teed up sophomore Paige Savage (Johns Creek, Ga.) from the high slot, but her one-timer dinged off the left post and stayed out.

Northeastern finally broke through on the power play at the 13:38 mark of the second period. After some good puck movement in the offensive zone, freshman Heather Mottau (Milton, Mass.) unleashed a hard shot from the point that bounced off a leg in front and trickled into space to the left of the UConn cage. Esposito quickly pounced on the loose disc and tucked it into the back of the net for her second goal of the season and first in 11 games.

Connecticut threatened to tie the game minutes later when MacDonnell raced in alone on a shorthanded breakaway, but Desjardins took away the bottom of the net to deny the attempt, before stoning Leah Burress on the rebound.

The Huskies padded their lead less than two minutes into the third when MacSorley took a cross-ice feed from redshirt senior Kelly Wallace (Libertyville, Ill.) and slipped the puck past UConn netminder Elaine Chuli (30 saves) with a low, hard shot from a tight angle at the right of the net.

Northeastern nearly added another insurance tally minutes later when Esposito danced around a defender and wristed a shot that beat Chuli, but struck the iron and hopped harmlessly away.

Trailing 2-0 with just over two minutes to play, Connecticut pulled Chuli in favor of an extra attacker. The move paid dividends as MacDonnell scored just seconds into the 6-on-5 with a hard shot from the point that whistled through traffic and found the back of the net.

Chuli remained on the bench for the ensuing faceoff, and just over a minute later, the Huskies were back in front by two, 3-1, as Mottau collected a loose puck at center ice and wristed a shot into the empty net from just inside the UConn blue line.

Mottau finished the game with a goal and an assist for her second career multi-point game. The freshman, who has seen time at forward and on defense this season, played both positions Wednesday and recorded three shots and one blocked shot.

Northeastern returns to action on Sunday against cross-town rival Boston University. Opening faceoff from Walter Brown Arena is set for 12 p.m.

Notes
• The Huskies scored three goals for the first time in 11 games; Northeastern last scored 3+ goals in a game on Nov. 3 vs. UNH (3-0).
• Wallace recorded her ninth point in her last nine games played.
• Northeastern is now 5-0-3 in its last eight trips to Storrs.
• The Huskies have outscored UConn, 34-6, during their current eight-game winning streak over their Hockey East foes.
• Esposito (1 g, 1 a) recorded her first multi-point game of the season.