Bobcats get claws clipped

Bobcats get claws clipped

By Pete Rossi, QBSN Staff Writer

The Quinnipiac women's ice hockey team (13-9-2, 9-4-2 ECAC) lost a hard fought battle to No. 3/3 nationally ranked Cornell (14-2-0, 10-1-0 ECAC), 4-1, on Friday evening at Lynah Rink in Ithaca, N.Y. The Bobcats and Big Red now share first-place in ECAC Hockey standings with 20 points apiece.

Quinnipiac came out with a vengeance in the first period, seeking retribution for a 7-1 loss the last time the two teams met way back in November. Just 21 seconds into the first period, sophomore Kelly Babstock (Mississauga, Ontario) had a wide-open shot from the crease which was initially saved by Big Red goaltender Lauren Slebodnik. The rebound however slid right to assistant senior captain Kate Wheeler (Oakville, Ontario) who backhanded it to the back of the net for her fourth of the year. Babstock was credited with her team-leading 15^th helper of the season. The Bobcats held down the fort defensively as they held Cornell to just three shots on goal. It looked as if things were going to go the Bobcats’ way for the night. It seemed all they did was awaken a sleeping giant.

At the 3:47 mark of the second period, Cornell tied things up with a point slap shot from freshman Jillian Saulnier. It came right off of a successful Bobcats penalty kill, but Quinnipiac could not get out of their own zone. Sophomore forward Jessica Campbell was also credited with an assist on the goal. At the 10:12 mark, Cornell got its second goal of the night. Junior defender Lauriane Rougeau received a fast pass from senior Catherine White and one-timed it past Bobcat goalie Victoria Vigilanti (Woodbridge, Ontario). Just over two minutes later, the Big Red struck again as Brianne Jenner found room coming down the wing, fired a quick wrist shot on goal, and buried her eighth goal of the season. The period would end 3-1 in favor of the Big Red.

The third period went along with Quinnipiac playing evenly with Cornell, but with another power play opportunity at the 11:43 mark, Cornell scored their fourth and final goal off the stick of Campbell for her second point of the night. Overall, Quinnipiac held Cornell to just one-for-seven on its power-play chances. The Bobcats failed to convert in their five extra skater opportunities.

In the contest overall, the shots were deadlocked at 21 apiece, as Vigilanti turned away 17 shots in net for Quinnipiac, while Slebodnick made 20 saves for Cornell.

Quinnipiac looks to bounce back tomorrow afternoon on Saturday, Jan. 14, when it travels to face ECAC Hockey opponent Colgate at 4 p.m.