Reigning USCHO Rookie of the Year Jaclyn Hawkins needed just one period to complete a hat trick for Connecticut against reigning Hockey East champion Providence on Saturday. That was more than enough offense for UConn goalie Kaitlyn Shain, who stopped 37 in the 3-1 win for the Huskies (1-1, 1-0 Hockey East) over the Friars (0-1, 0-1).
Hawkins picked up her first goal unassisted 3:52 into the first period when she walked out in front and tucked it off the far post. Hawkins increased the UConn lead to two just 11 seconds later off of a pass from freshman Brianna Uliasz.
Providence’s top offensive defenseman Kristen Gigliotti cut the deficit to one at the 18:42 mark when she followed up a wrist shot through traffic and finished with a diving shot. But the Friars’ momentum was short lived as Hawkins completed her hat trick 33 seconds later when she scored while colliding with a Providence defender and goalie Jana Bugden in front of the net.
The defenses on both sides held from there. Twenty-six of Shain’s saves came in the final two periods. The Huskies held the Friars 0-for-4 on the power play, with Shain stopping all six shots while Providence held the man advantage. The Huskies were 1-for-7 on the power play while taking 16 shots. Jana Bugden had 22 saves in goal for Providence.
UConn will next be in action on Saturday, Oct. 22 when the Huskies travel to another Hockey East foe, Maine. The puck is scheduled to drop at noon. Providence will host Colgate on Saturday and Sunday, October 22-23 in its 2005-06 season home-debut. Both games are scheduled for 2 p.m. at Schneider Arena in Providence, R.I.
