NEW HAVEN — No. 7 Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey extended its winning streak to eight Friday night, defeating the No.13 Yale Bulldogs 3-1, for the team’s first conference victory of the season.
Before the game had even begun, buzz around the Bobcats was beginning to blossom. Junior right winger Kahlen Lamarche’s stellar weekend against Northeastern had turned heads on the national level, with her 12 goals and 19 points leading not only the ECAC, but also tied for the lead in the NCAA.
However, as the season transitions to conference play, the importance of winning in multiple ways only increases.
Off the bat, Quinnipiac’s talent had run cold. Both the Bobcats and the Bulldogs were struggling immensely to string together meaningful offensive action throughout the first. Although both teams were able to move the puck into their respective offensive zones, protecting possession after passing the blue line remained an issue.
However, despite the initial first period struggles, Quinnipiac kept pace, shifting its gameplay to match Yale’s fast-paced, transition-centric offense.
“Yale did a really nice job transitioning and creating opportunities,” head coach Cass Turner said.
It wasn’t just the pace of play that the Bobcats needed to match. It was also Yale’s physicality. The Bobcats, who’ve struggled at times to stay out of the penalty box, needed to mitigate the lack of discipline while keeping the physicality of ECAC hockey.
After a scoreless first, Quinnipiac would come out swinging after the intermission. Even with the buzz focused on the Bobcat’s stars, the resilient Quinnipiac unit would look to score by any means necessary.
A stretch pass through the neutral zone would break the ice first, with senior center Emerson Jarvis locating sophomore winger Taylor Brueske along the blue line. The Minnesota native would take the open lane against junior goaltender Anna Phillips, whistling a shot past her left ear for Quinnipiac’s first of the game, and Brueske’s first of the season.
“Awesome to see Tay score that goal,” Turner said. “She’s been playing better every single day, and we were excited to see that happen.”
Another member of the Quinnipiac bottom-six would double the score for the Bobcat side later in the second. A scrum in front of the Yale net would award sophomore position Bryn Prier the opportunity to jam the puck past a sprawling Phillips, scoring through a sea of white jerseys to put the game at arms reach for the Bulldogs.
The goal support couldn’t come at a better time for sophomore goaltender Felicia Frank. Even with the scoring contributions from up and down the roster, Frank’s stellar netminding was the catalyst for Quinnipiac’s victory.
“She is a brick wall. Literally nothing can get past her,” Lamarche said. “She gives us confidence to go do what we need day in and day out.”
Even though Yale would net a goal late in the third period, Frank’s 25 saves on 26 shots would prove to be too much for the Bulldogs to handle.
Jarvis would earn her second point of the night in the game’s dagger, putting the puck in the empty-net for the second straight game to cement the Bobcat’s first ECAC victory of the season.
So far, this season has been something special, and that is more than evident in the bond this team shares with one another.
“They’ve got a connection,” Turner said. “I”ve heard many of them say…I haven’t had this much fun playing hockey.”
And with nine straight victories to start their trek toward the pinnacle of college hockey, how could they not?
“Winning is just so fun,” Lamarche said. “And we find out a way to win every night.”
Quinnipiac returns to the ice on Saturday, Oct. 25 to take on Brown in Providence, R.I. Puck drop is set for 3 p.m.
