By: Paul Caracciolo
Tuesday night marked the start of the second half of what has been a historic season for Quinnipiac.
The Bobcats only loss of the season came in their most previous game against the Boston University Terriers.
Quinnipiac hit the ground running as it scored two goals in the first four minutes of the game in front of a sold-out Hobey Baker Rink.
A Connor Clifton slap shot from the point accounted for the first and a beautiful highlight-reel dangle from K.J. Tiefenwerth put him in position to put home the second.
“Quinnipiac is a good team, as coach’s speak to the media a majority of the time you say what went wrong with your team, that was a poor performance and all the clichés, ” Princeton head coach Ron Fogarty said. “When in fact you have to look at the their team and say its pretty damn good hockey team, and that’s what the difference was.”
Quinnipiac sure seemed like a damn good hockey team.
The first period onslaught continued as Derek Smith sniped a shot past Princeton goalie Colton Phinney. Just over a minute later, Tim Clifton scored only seven seconds into the power play to make it a four-goal lead about half way through the first period.
“That game was a product of Quinnipiac being a better hockey team, I can’t say anymore than that.” Fogarty said.
Travis St. Denis scored the fifth and final goal of the first period.
Tanner MacMaster scored the final goal of the game for the Bobcats in the second period.
After that, Quinnipiac slowed themselves down and Princeton started to play better. But according to Fogarty, the last period and a half didn’t mean much.
“When its 6-0 they’re going to lay off the gas so the game is going to look a little more even,” Fogarty said. “We were then able to slow them down and that the only way you can win, by slowing them down. But it wasn’t like that when they didn’t have a nice lead.”
Quinnipiac improves to 16-1-2 on the year while Princeton falls to 4-10.
Princeton will get a chance to slow down Quinnipiac Wednesday as they get a rematch in Hamden, Connecticut.
Quinnipiac players and coaches were not available for comment after the game.
