HAMDEN — In a tight, back-and-forth contest, Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey took down the University of Maine 4-3 in overtime fashion on Saturday afternoon.
This win completes a series sweep against the Black Bears, with the Bobcats taking the previous contest in a 3-2 win on Friday night, moving them to 2-0 on the young season. It also marks Quinnipiac’s 10th straight win against Maine dating back to 2019.
In the first period, the Quinnipiac offense, who came out lighting fast in each of their last two matchups, slowed down. The Black Bear defense held the Bobcats five shots inside the first five minutes, failing to convert on any of their chances.
The defensive struggles would be a common theme for Quinnipiac throughout the game. A misplaced stretch pass right into the stick of freshman forward Mackenzie Podwell, who sunk a shot into the back of the net, giving the Black Bears an early 1-0 lead, less than three minutes into the game.
The offense would continue to struggle, failing to put away opportunities for the majority of the period. That was until sophomore winger Bryn Prier put a shot on Black Bear Sophomore goalie Kiia Lahtine, which deflected into the crease, allowing freshman center Jade Barbirati to put in the deflection for her first collegiate goal.
“It felt good,” Barbirati said. “But I didn’t do it alone. It was as a team.”
Three minutes after the Bobcats tied the game, Maine responded. A deflected clearance by freshman defenseman Page Fong allowed junior forward Makayla Boarder to slip behind Quinnipiac’s defensive line and score her first goal of the season.
The Bobcat offense would continue to find their footing in the second period. The team put 13 shots on net, with their lone goal in the period coming off a mid-air strike from sophomore defenseman Makayla Watson, tying the game at two apiece.
The defensive problems would continue into the second period for the Bobcats. However, the tone began to shift when head coach Cass Turner pulled senior goalie Calli Hogarth in favor of sophomore goaltender Felicia Frank.
The swap turned out to be effective, as Frank would save nine of 10 shots she faced from the Black Bears. Her only slip-up came when Maine was able to slip the puck behind her, and freshman forward Isabelle Michaud tapped the puck into the net for her first collegiate goal, giving Maine the lead 3-2.
“They’re both strong goalies for us,” Turner said.“Sometimes you’re in a game where you need a bump, and Felicia was going to give us that bump tonight.”
Entering the third period, the Bobcats began to play with an increased sense of urgency, putting the pressure on Maine early with two quick fast breaks, both coming from senior center Tessa Holk. Although she failed to score on either attempt, Holk deflected a snap shot from Watson past Lahtinen, to tie the game at three with 12 minutes left to go in the period.
Quinnipiac’s defense would hold up for the remainder of regulation, tuning up silly defensive mistakes made earlier in the game, and holding the Black Bear offense to one shot for the final half of the period.
When overtime started, the Bobcats came out of the gate hot, continuing the pressure they had in the previous period, starting Holk, Watson and senior center Emerson Jarvis on the ice.
Barberati, Senior Defensemen Zoe Uens and Junior Winger Alex Law would put great chances on Lahtinen, with Boarder returning the favor for the Black Bears, missing a game-clinching goal by a matter of inches as it deflected off of the crossbar.
With two minutes left to go in overtime, junior winger Kahlen Lamarche would send a slapshot into the crease. Watson would deflect it, and the Barberati would tap in the walk-off goal, giving the Bobcats a 4-3 win.
The Bobcats return to home ice next Saturday, Oct. 4, as they take on the Providence College Friars at home. Puck drop is slated for 3 p.m.
