By: Andrew Weiss
Quinnipiac knew they would have some trouble with RPI despite the Bobcats ranking as the number one seed in the ECAC postseason tournament. Emma Woods made sure that wouldn’t be a problem in game one.
Woods scored two goals, including the game winner, as Quinnipiac defeated RPI 3-2 in overtime to take a 1-0 series lead. Nicole Connery added a goal and an assist to reach 100 career points.
Sydney Rossman had five saves on seven shots to pick up her first career postseason win. Lovisa Selander had 57 saves on 60 shots in the loss.
“(RPI has) a good goaltender. We wanted to tire her out, and we did it,” Quinnipiac head coach Cass Turner said. “For (Rossman) it’s right back into the next play, right back and ready for tomorrow.”
The Bobcats came roaring out of the gate with 20 shots on net in the first. However, Selander stood tall, stopping them all to keep the game in range for the Engineers.
Selander came into the game having stopped 88 of the 92 shots the Bobcats had taken on her in two regular season games. Meanwhile, the RPI attack was bottled up by a stout Quinnipiac blue line, only mustering two shots on Rossman. The game remained scoreless after the first period.
“(RPI has) a great goaltender,” Woods said. “And we wanted to wear her down.”
The Bobcats continued to pounce on opportunities in the second period, but once again Selander was on her game. She stopped 16 more shots in the middle frame, keeping RPI hanging around. That would prove big for the Engineers, as the final two minutes of action was heavily skewed in their favor.
Jaimie Grigsby would score her second career goal on a breakaway with two minutes left in the period for RPI. She sprung on the puck, pushing it past a stumbling Taryn Baumgardt on the Engineers blue line, before racing ahead on a breakaway. She beat Rossman low on her blocker side without making a move.
Josefine Hansen would add to that lead with 29 seconds left in the second. She took a blast from the point to extend the RPI lead to 2-0. She was freed up for a chance when Lauren Wash stole the puck on the forecheck from Baumgardt. Rossman appeared to not see the puck, only reacting once the puck flew past her.
The Bobcats stayed patient with their game plan in the third period, finally cracking Selander when Woods scored 3:52 in. She finally put the puck in after two initial saves from Selander on T.T. Cianfarano left one more rebound free.
The floodgates appeared to have opened, as Nicole Connery tied up the game at two 7:39 into the third. Connery collected her own rebound off of a blocked shot and placed it just above the right shoulder of Selander for her 99th career point.
“I’ve been trying to keep my legs moving,” Connery said. “I shot, and I saw it go around (the inside of the net).”
Quinnipiac rode their momentum into overtime to score the game winning goal. The Bobcats put four shots on Selander in the two minutes of extra time before Woods finished the game.
Cianfarano streaked down the left side of Selander after getting a pass from Connery. She threw it on net, and the puck deflected off the skate of Woods into the net.
Connery’s 100th point was that secondary assist, her eighth point in the last three games. The goal call stood after considerable review from the referees.
“We have video replay for a reason,” Turner said. “Nice that we are able to go to the review, and have it be something that our kids were confident was a goal.”
“No doubt,” Woods said about the goal. “I was in stride, and I feel like it happened so quickly that (a kicking motion) wasn’t forced.”
The Bobcats finished the game with 60 shots on net out of 102 total attempts, while RPI managed only seven shots on net out of 14 total attempts.
The Bobcats dominated possession for a majority of the game. Special teams was a non-factor, as both teams only scored at even-strength. Quinnipiac was 0-3 on the power play, while RPI did not score on their one power play.
With the win, Quinnipiac set a program record for wins in a season with 27. Turner’s 27th win tied the national record for wins as a coach in their first season.
