Huskies Survive Six-Goal Third Period to Edge Bobcats 4-3; Chan Makes 40 Saves, Allard Scores Twice as UConn Advances to Nutmeg Classic Championship
STORRS, CT – Megan Woodworth buried the game-winning goal with 3:35 remaining in the third period, and Tia Chan made 40 saves as No. 8 UConn women’s hockey survived a wild back-and-forth battle to defeat No. 9 Quinnipiac, 4-3, in the opening round of the 2025 Nutmeg Classic on Thursday night at the Freitas Ice Forum.
The victory sends UConn (11-3-1) to Friday’s Nutmeg Classic championship game at 6:30 p.m., where the Huskies will face the winner of Yale and Sacred Heart. Quinnipiac falls to 12-4-1.
“It was a hard-fought game between two top-10 teams,” UConn head coach Chris MacKenzie said. “We showed resilience when they came back multiple times, and Megan’s goal was huge. Tia was outstanding in net all night.”
Woodworth’s Game-Winner Caps Dramatic Third Period
With the game tied 3-3 and time running out, Woodworth took a feed from Brooke Campbell and fired a shot past Quinnipiac goaltender Felicia Frank at 16:25 of the third period to give UConn a 4-3 lead.
“I just tried to get it on the net,” Woodworth said. “Brooke made a great play to get me the puck, and I was able to find a hole.”
The goal capped a frenetic third period that saw six goals scored in less than 20 minutes. Quinnipiac’s Zoe Uens tied the game at 2-2 just 1:28 into the period, but UConn responded 23 seconds later when Ashley Allard scored her second goal of the game to restore the Huskies’ lead at 3-2.
Quinnipiac refused to go away. Makayla Watson tied the game at 3-3 at 11:02, setting up Woodworth’s heroics.
“We knew they were going to keep pushing,” MacKenzie said. “They’re a great team. But our kids stayed composed and found a way to win.”
Allard’s Two-Goal Performance Leads UConn Offense
Allard led the Huskies with two goals and seven shots on goal, providing the offensive spark UConn needed to overcome a resilient Quinnipiac squad.
Her first goal came at 14:37 of the second period, giving UConn a 2-1 lead after Quinnipiac’s Tessa Holk had tied the game at 1-1 earlier in the period. Allard took a pass from Claire Murdoch and beat Frank to put the Huskies back in front.
“Ashley was all over the ice tonight,” MacKenzie said. “She’s been one of our most consistent players all season, and she showed why tonight.”
Allard’s second goal came just 23 seconds after Uens had tied the game in the third period. Assisted by Sadie Hotles, Allard restored UConn’s lead at 3-2 with 18:09 remaining.
“I just wanted to help my team,” Allard said. “We knew we had to respond quickly, and I was fortunate to be in the right place.”
Chan Stands Tall with 40-Save Performance
Chan was the backbone of UConn’s victory, turning aside 40 of 43 Quinnipiac shots in a dominant performance that kept the Huskies in the game throughout.
The Bobcats outshot UConn 43-33 and applied relentless pressure, particularly in the first and third periods. Chan made 11 saves in the first period to keep the game scoreless, then made 16 saves in the third period as Quinnipiac pressed for the equalizer after Woodworth’s go-ahead goal.
“Tia was incredible,” MacKenzie said. “She made some huge saves at key moments. That’s what you need from your goaltender in a game like this.”
Chan faced a barrage of shots in the final minutes after Woodworth’s goal, including a flurry with the net empty in the final 1:31. She turned aside attempts from Uens, Avery Bairos, and Laurence Frenette to preserve the victory.
“My defense did a great job clearing rebounds and blocking shots,” Chan said. “I just tried to stay focused and make the saves I needed to make.”
Huskies News:
- UConn Men’s Hockey Battles Stonehill to 3-3 Tie in Overtime Thriller
- UConn’s Fudd, Utah State’s Collins Lead USBWA Weekly Honors; Rhode Island Upsets No. 16 NC State
- UConn Men’s Hockey Splits Weekend Series with New Hampshire, Takes Game 1 4-1 Before Falling 4-3 in Game 2
- Fudd Scores 31, Strong Records 20-Rebound Double-Double as No. 1 UConn Survives No. 6 Michigan’s Rally, 72-69
Scoreless First Period Sets Stage for Offensive Explosion
The first period was a defensive battle, with both goaltenders standing tall. Frank made nine saves for Quinnipiac, while Chan turned aside 11 Bobcat shots to keep the game scoreless through 20 minutes.
UConn’s best chance came early when Emma Eryou fired a shot that Frank saved just 13 seconds into the game. Quinnipiac’s Emerson Jarvis and Uens tested Chan multiple times, but the UConn netminder was equal to the task.
The only penalty of the period came at 7:06 when Quinnipiac’s Regan Berglund was called for hooking, giving UConn a power play. The Huskies generated two shots on the man advantage but couldn’t break through.
UConn’s Christina Walker was called for elbowing with 1:35 remaining in the period, giving Quinnipiac a power play that carried into the second period. The Bobcats fired six shots during the power play but couldn’t solve Chan.
Second Period: Josifovic Opens Scoring, Allard Gives UConn 2-1 Lead
Kyla Josifovic broke the scoreless tie at 2:27 of the second period, converting feeds from Campbell and Woodworth to give UConn a 1-0 lead. The goal was Josifovic’s seventh of the season.
“It felt great to get that first goal,” Josifovic said. “Brooke and Megan made great plays to set me up.”
Quinnipiac answered at 8:58 when Holk, assisted by Kahlen Lamarche and Uens, tied the game at 1-1. The goal came just after offsetting penalties to Quinnipiac’s Aynsley D’Ottavio and UConn’s Julia Pellerin had expired.
UConn regained the lead at 14:37 when Allard scored her first goal of the game, assisted by Murdoch and Camryn Grimley, to give the Huskies a 2-1 advantage heading into the third period.
Campbell Dominates in Faceoff Circle
Campbell was a force in the faceoff circle, winning 16 of 22 draws (72.7%) and recording two assists. Her faceoff dominance gave UConn crucial possession throughout the game and set up several scoring chances.
“Brooke’s face-off work was outstanding,” MacKenzie said. “Winning faceoffs is so important, especially in a tight game like this. She gave us a lot of extra possessions.”
Campbell’s assists on Josifovic’s opening goal and Woodworth’s game-winner were critical to UConn’s victory.
Quinnipiac’s Resilience Falls Just Short
Despite the loss, Quinnipiac showed why it’s ranked No. 9 in the nation, battling back from deficits three times and outshooting UConn 43-33.
Uens led the Bobcats with a goal and an assist, while Jarvis recorded two assists. D’Ottavio also had two assists in the losing effort.
Frank made 29 saves for Quinnipiac, including several key stops in the second period to keep the Bobcats within striking distance.
“We played hard and had our chances,” Quinnipiac head coach Billi Chambers said. “Credit to UConn—they made the plays when they needed to. We’ll learn from this and move forward.”
Defensive Efforts Shine
UConn’s defense blocked 23 shots, led by Woodworth’s five blocks. Josifovic added three blocks, while Meghane Duchesne-Chalifoux contributed three of her own.
“Blocking shots is a huge part of our game,” MacKenzie said. “Our kids sacrificed their bodies tonight, and that’s what it takes to win games like this.”
Quinnipiac blocked six UConn shots, with Ella Sennick, Emerson Jarvis, and Ruby Rauk each recording one.
Special Teams Battle
Both teams went 0-for-1 on the power play, with UConn failing to convert on Berglund’s first-period hooking penalty and Quinnipiac unable to capitalize on Walker’s elbowing penalty.
The Bobcats also went 0-for-1 on Watson’s third-period body-checking penalty, firing four shots during the man advantage but unable to beat Chan.
“Special teams were solid on both sides,” MacKenzie said. “We didn’t give up much on the penalty kill, and that was important.”
Looking Ahead: Nutmeg Classic Championship
UConn will face the winner of Thursday’s late game between Yale and Sacred Heart in Friday’s Nutmeg Classic championship at 6:30 p.m. at the Freitas Ice Forum.
“We’re excited to be in the championship game,” MacKenzie said. “But we know we have to play better tomorrow. We’ll rest up, make some adjustments, and be ready to go.”
The Huskies are seeking their first Nutmeg Classic title since 2022.
5 Key Takeaways
- Woodworth’s Clutch Goal: Megan Woodworth’s game-winning goal with 3:35 remaining lifted UConn to victory in a thriller between two top-10 teams.
- Chan’s Stellar Performance: Tia Chan made 40 saves, including 16 in the third period, to backstop UConn’s win and keep the Huskies in the game throughout.
- Allard’s Two-Goal Night: Ashley Allard led UConn with two goals and seven shots, providing the offensive firepower the Huskies needed.
- Campbell’s Faceoff Dominance: Brooke Campbell won 16 of 22 faceoffs (72.7%) and recorded two assists, giving UConn crucial possession and setting up key goals.
- Resilient Quinnipiac: Despite the loss, No. 9 Quinnipiac showed its quality, battling back from deficits three times and outshooting UConn 43-33.
Game Summary
- No. 9 Quinnipiac (12-4-1) 3
- No. 8 UConn (11-3-1) 4
November 28, 2025 | Freitas Ice Forum, Storrs, CT Attendance: 743
Scoring by Period: Quinnipiac: 0-1-2 = 3 UConn: 0-2-2 = 4
Goals: Quinnipiac – Tessa Holk (7), Zoe Uens (4), Makayla Watson (2). UConn – Kyla Josifovic (7), Ashley Allard 2 (2, 3), Megan Woodworth (5, GW)
Assists: Quinnipiac – Kahlen Lamarche, Zoe Uens, Emerson Jarvis 2, Aynsley D’Ottavio 2. UConn – Brooke Campbell 2, Megan Woodworth, Claire Murdoch, Camryn Grimley, Sadie Hotles, Kyla Josifovic
Goaltending: Quinnipiac – Felicia Frank (L, 29 saves on 33 shots). UConn – Tia Chan (W, 40 saves on 43 shots)
Power Plays: Quinnipiac: 0-for-2 UConn: 0-for-1
Shots on Goal: Quinnipiac: 11-13-16 = 43 UConn: 9-12-12 = 33
Penalties:Quinnipiac: 3 penalties, 6 minutes UConn: 2 penalties, 4 minutes
Faceoffs:Quinnipiac: 23-for-53 (43.4%) UConn: 30-for-53 (56.6%)
Blocked Shots:Quinnipiac: 6 UConn: 23
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Go Huskies!! ⚪️🔴
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