Vermont came from behind in the third period to defeat the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers, 4-3, in the second game of the Catamount Cup Saturday night at Gutterson Fieldhouse.
Senior Colin Vock, junior Justin Milo, freshman David Pacan, and junior Jack Downing all recorded goals for Vermont, while freshman Matti Jarvinen scored two goals and senior Tom Train scored one for Alabama-Huntsville.
Though Vermont took an early lead in the game, Alabama-Huntsville scored three goals in the second period, forcing the Catamounts to battle back late in the contest.
“They’re smart enough to realize that there was some selfishness out there, and a lack of discipline in terms of our structure; we came out in the third period and it still wasn’t perfect by any means, but we played with a lot more energy, we played with a lot more togetherness and obviously got the job done,” Vermont coach Kevin Sneddon said.
“We’re in a lot of games like this and we’ve just got to keep working and try to get on the right side of them,” Alabama-Huntsville coach Danton Cole added.
Vermont took the 1-0 lead at 9:13 in the first period when Vock put the puck past junior goalie Cameron Talbot, as players crowded around the net.
The Catamounts increased their lead to 2-0 in the second period at 4:25 when Milo scored. The goal was put under video review but was upheld.
When Vermont sophomore Matt Marshall took a contact to the head cross checking penalty at 9:00 in the second period, the Chargers took advantage and began to shift the momentum of the game when Train put the puck into the back corner of the net, cutting Vermont’s lead in half. UAH’s first goal was also put under review but was also upheld.
UAH tied the game at 11:46 when Jarvinen scored unassisted with a wrist shot, beating senior goalie Mike Spillane. The Chargers pulled ahead of the Catamounts in the final minute of the period when Jarvinen scored his second goal at 19:09, putting the puck past Spillane as Spillane fell to the ice.
UVM came back to tie the game in the third period when Pacan scored at 8:20.
UVM scored again to take the 4-3 lead as the third period was winding down at 13:01. Downing put the puck just past the glove of Talbot, assisted by junior Wahsontiio Stacey and senior co-captain Brian Roloff.
This game, in the Catamount Cup, marked the first-ever meeting of Vermont and Alabama-Huntsville. With the win, UVM advances to the championship round of the tournament to face Minnesota-Duluth. The Chargers will play in a consolation game against the Mercyhurst Lakers.
This is the fifth straight year that UVM has advanced to the championship round of the tournament.
