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The Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey team (2-0-0) defeated the Maine Black Bears (1-3-0) 3-0 on Saturday afternoon, completing a two game sweep at home to open their regular season play.

The first period was uneventful on the score sheet with neither team finding the back of the net. The Black Bears had a fair share of the majority of possession time, but were unable to capitalize on chances. The Bobcats, though they were ahead in shot totals, also struggled to find the back of the net.

The second period wrote a different story however, as the Bobcats opened the scoring up during that frame. A mere minute into the period T.T. Cianfarano found herself on a breakaway opportunity, but was unable to finish on the chance.

However, with 13:32 remaining in the period, she was able to redeem herself as she capitalized on a pass from Kenzie Lancaster and sent a shot past Maine goaltender Carly Jackson for her third of the season giving Quinnipiac a 1-0 lead.

Just over five minutes later, Meghan Turner joined her line mate in the scoring column poking the puck past Jackson and into the back of the net for her first of the season. Cianfarano was credited with an assist on the play for her second point of the game and sixth of the season.

But the scoring outbreak was not over just yet.

With just :48 seconds remaining in the period, Melissa Samoskevich ripped a shot from slot for her second of the season, padding the Bobcats’ lead and improving it to a 3-0 margin.

In between the first and the second period, head coach Cassandra Turner credited the team’s success to confidence with the puck.

“We had more opportunities to move the puck and possess the puck with confidence, and I think once we started to do that in the second period and make better decisions with the puck the game changed a little bit and we did a really good job of carrying that again into the third period,” Turner said.

The third period followed a similar path to the first, as neither team would score before the final buzzer. Sydney Rossman however saved all seven shots she faced during the frame adding to her save total of 17.

Her performance was good enough to register her first shutout of the season, a feat worthy of mention especially after a difficult third period the day before.

In terms of a difference between the two games, Rossman spoke of confidence and a mental implement.

“I think just staying in the game, getting my feet set early and knowing that you have to be ready for any puck at any time,” Rossman said. “’Wash it away’ I’d say if they were to get a goal today, wash it away and act like it’s 0-0 again, I think that was huge. I think I was more confident today knowing my team has my back and stuff.”

The Bobcats will square off with the University of Connecticut on Friday night and the University of New Hampshire on Saturday as they continue their out of conference regular season play.

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