Women's ice hockey ties Brown in ECAC game

Women's ice hockey ties Brown in ECAC game

By Angelique Fiske, QBSN Web Editor

 

After taking all three of its ECAC games thus far this season, including Friday’s 3-0 victory over Yale, the Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey team could only pull off a tie against conference opponent Brown University.  The 2-2 overtime contest brings the Bobcats’ ECAC record to 3-0-1 and 4-5-1 overall.

The first period saw Quinnipiac out-shot Brown 14-6, but remained scoreless.  The first goal did not hit the back of the net until halfway through the second period when Brown’s Shannon Flately ripped a Jennifer Nedow offering to the upper left corner past the Bobcat keeper, junior Victoria Vigilanti (Woodbridge, Ontario).  

Quinnipiac immediately re-energized to seek the equalizer, eventually succeeding through Kelly Babstock, snagging her fifth goal of the year off an assist from sophomore Shelby Wignall (Hamilton, Ontario) and senior Melissa Perry (Chelsea, Michigan). 

“Kelly can change the game by herself like she did tonight.  We were down by one and she scored a great goal,” head coach Rick Seeley said.  “She did have numerous opportunities in the third.  They’re her bread-and-butter plays, and they were just sliding off her stick tonight.” 

Despite Babstock’s many opportunities in the final period of regulation, it was another Bobcat who would come through after giving up another goal to Brown’s Brittany Moorehead.  Having just recently made the switch from defender to forward, Wignall knocked in her first goal of the year midway through the third period.  Junior Regan Boulton (Brandon, Manitoba) lined a power-shot in front of the goal, and Wignall just “had [her] stick down for once,” she said.

“I don’t think anyone realized it was my goal,” Wignall said with a laugh.  “I was just happy to be in the right place at the right time.”

Even though the personal achievements added for a bit of optimism after the game, the Bobcats know this performance needs to be learned from, having taken 50 shots on goal and capitalizing only twice.

“It’s tough to dominate possession that much and come out with the tie,” Seeley said. “I’ve got to give them credit; they were great around the net, so we weren’t getting any rebounds.  The open nets we had, they were jamming us up.  They did a great job.”

With all of the clear offensive pressure in the game, the Bobcats really sprung back to life when they were on the hunt for an equalizer.  However, when momentum only comes after being struck against, the game became offensive as a reaction.  According to Seeley, the Bobcats should be showing up already in the playing state of mind.

“I think the days of Vince Lombardi motivating teams are long gone,” Seeley said.  “If you don’t show up ready to play, I don’t think a coach can do it.  Our job is to get them ready during the week, prepare them the best we can.”

Motivation aside, the team has an idea of where it has been and where it needs to be in terms of conference competition.

“We’ve started out with, traditionally, four weak teams in conference play.  Even though we’re 3-0-1, we’ve had lapses that if we have those kinds of lapses against Clarkson and St. Lawrence will probably end up in our net,” Seeley said.  “We just have to tighten up our game, and work hard to play a full 60 minutes instead of 58 or 55.”

The Bobcats continue ECAC play as they take head to Clarkson on Nov. 11.