The Quinnipiac women’s hockey team was ready to end the final day of 2009 with a victory on Thursday, but a third period comeback by Princeton forced a 2-2 tie.

Quinnipiac led 2-1 with less than two minutes to play before Princeton freshman Alex Kinney fired a shot at freshman goaltender Victoria Vigilanti. A Bobcat defender redirected the shot, but Kinney’s teammate Melanie Wallace took control of the deflection and flicked the puck over the head of Vigilanti to tie the game.

After a scoreless first period, the second period belonged to the Bobcats as they scored twice in a two minute span. Senior forward Janine Duffy scored her eighth goal of the season on a give-and-go play with sophomore forward Kate Wheeler.

Less than two minutes later, freshman defender Regan Boulton scored her first career goal on a power play as she fired a shot over the glove of goaltender Rachel Weber to put the Bobcats up 2-0. Duffy and freshman Heather Hughes each picked up an assist on the play as well.

Princeton finally got on the scoreboard in the third period when sophomore Charissa Stydnyk scored on a power play one minute into the period.

Vigilanti finished with 30 saves after a scoreless overtime period, just four shy of her season-high.

The tie keeps Quinnipiac in third place in the ECAC Hockey standings with a record of 4-2-5 in ECAC Hockey and 7-6-6 overall.

Quinnipiac will open 2010 on Jan. 2, in a rematch against Princeton at Hobey Baker Rink.