Photo Courtesy: Quinnipiac Athletics
By: Phil Akre
Efficiency is something the Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey team struggled with in its first game of the Nutmeg Classic. After they compiled 44 shots on goal, the Bobcats had just one goal to show for.
However, through 45 shots on goal in the consolation game a day later, Quinnipiac defeated the University of Connecticut 3-2. Sophomore Melissa Samoskevich knows that there are some clear takeaways from the weekend.
“Not being satisfied with one goal,” Samoskevich said. “There were things we could have done better. But, we rebounded well today.”
Quinnipiac came into this year as six-time champions and a one-time runner-up of the Nutmeg Classic since 2004. UConn has been named Nutmeg champions four times since the 2004 season. Earlier in the season, the Bobcats defeated the Huskies by a score of 3-1. Up until the third period of that game, UConn played very well defensively. Today, however, was a complete game effort from both teams.
“[We had] a little more grit,” Turner said. “She’s [Annie Belanger] a really good goalie. We had that commitment to take away their vision.”
Just four minutes into the first period of today’s contest, Quinnipiac was able to strike first, as Taryn Baumgardt rifled one in to find the back left corner of the net. Baumgardt’s goal was a representation of the first period of play between the teams. It was fast-paced, aggressive and spirited hockey.
Five minutes after Baumgardt’s goal, Randi Marcon gave the Bobcats a 2-0 lead after she scored her third goal of the season.
Just as Quinnipiac looked to close out the first with a comfortable lead, UConn’s Leah Lum scored with 28 seconds left on the clock. Four minutes into the second period, Lum picked up right where she left off, as she took advantage of a Quinnipiac defensive breakdown and scored her second of the day. The game stayed knotted up at 2-2 for the rest of the second period. This is where a strong defensive stand began for the Bobcats. The defensive stand was led by freshman Kati Tabin, who had some key blocks late in the game.
The game stayed knotted up at 2-2 for the rest of the second period. This is where a strong defensive stand began for the Bobcats. The defensive stand was led by freshman Kati Tabin, who had some key blocks late in the game.
“They care about each other. That is kind of the mindset of Quinnipiac hockey. It’s nice to see that freshmen can understand about helping one another out–pick each other up when they make a mistake,” Turner said.
In what seemed like a theme of the game, early scoring was apparent in the third period. Melissa Samoskevich scored her sixth goal of the season just 18 seconds into the period, which gave the Bobcats the 3-2 lead.
“Very relieving,” was how Samoskevich described her goal. “I knew that it would come if I just kept shooting. Our line just kept trying to get pucks in.”
The goal was all Quinnipiac needed to take home the victory, even though UConn made it interesting in the final seconds with some last-ditch shots on net but to no avail.
By the end of the game, Quinnipiac had scored three goals off 45 total shots on goal. It was a big difference from the day before, where shot efficiency was nowhere to be found.
“I think our team is happy with how we responded from yesterday,” Turner said. “I was happy with how we played when we had a lead. I don’t think we let up.”
Quinnipiac will play next when it hits the road to play Union College on Friday, December 2nd.
