Maine Steals Lead to Defeat Bobcats

Maine Steals Lead to Defeat Bobcats

By: Taylor Massey QBSN Staff Writer

            In their first home game of the season the Quinnipiac woman’s ice hockey team started with a strong lead, but quickly lost control and let the Maine Black Bears skate past for the win. Different players scored the three Quinnipiac goals. Junior Brittany Lyons (Canton, Mass.) ended the game with a goal and two assists, but it wasn’t enough to keep Maine from taking the game.

            After winning the opening faceoff the Bobcats wasted no time getting to the net. Senior defender Bethany Dymarczyk (Hamden, Conn.) slipped the puck past Maine goaltender Brittany Ott (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) for a power-play goal just 18 seconds into the first period. She was assisted by sophomore Kelly Babstock (Mississauga, Ontario) and Brittany Lyons. Maine stepped up their defense, pressing the Bobcats and keeping them from extending their lead. However, with 11 seconds left Quinnipiac senior Chelsea Illchuck (Lockport, Manitoba) tossed the puck into Maine’s goal to end the first period leading 2-0.

            The second period began as a repeat of the first with Quinnipiac’s Brittany Lyons nabbing an unassisted goal just 41 seconds into the period. This time Maine fired back. After fighting for the puck sophomore Kayla Kaluzny (Calgary, Alberta) of the Bears swiped a goal past Bobcat’s goaltender junior Victoria Vigilanti (Woodbridge, Ontario) just over seven minutes into the second period. Brianne Kilgour (Hamilton, Ontario) assisted in Maine’s first goal of the game. The Bobcats still held a 3-1 lead until just six minutes later Maine scored again. Myriam Croussette (Baie-Comeau, Quebec) passed to Danielle Ward (Lansing, Mich.) who slapped the puck into the corner of Quinnpiac’s net, barely passing Vigilanti. The Bobcats barely held onto the 3-2 lead at the end of the second period.

            The beginning of the third period showed a complete turn around in the game as the Black Bear’s offense came out strong and the Bobcat’s defense faltered. In the first 30 seconds of play, Kayla Kaluzny scored her second goal of the game to tie the score 3-3. She was assisted by Jennifer More (Deloraine, Manitoba) and Chloe Tinkler (Wabush, N.L.). Then, only a minute and a half later Maine took the lead with a goal by Missy Denk (Poplar Grove, Ill.). Vigilanti had just deflected a previous shot when the puck went off the stick of Brianne Kilgour over to Denk who tapped it into the net. The Bobcats pushed for another goal the rest of the third period, but the Black Bear’s defense held strong. Victoria Vigilanti was pulled to allow another forward on the ice with 30 seconds left in the game in a last effort to score. Unfortunately it was too late for the Bobcats, and they lost 4-3 to Maine.

            During a post-game interview head coach Rick Seeley was asked about goaltender Victoria Vigilanti’s progress from game to game as she gave up four goals last weekend against Mercyhurst and did the same against Maine. Seeley said “We’ve been spoiled with Vigilanti and we’ve grown to count on her every night and we’ve had three games and I agree that two of them haven’t been good.” Vigilanti was recently named ECAC Goaltender of the Week for the 10^th time in her career. With a personal-high of nine shutouts last season she protects the Bobcat’s net with determination, but she can’t do it alone. The Bobcat’s defense will need to step it up in order to defeat Maine in the next game.

            The Bobcats will play Maine again Saturday at 1pm. Be sure to listen for live updates at theqbsn.com