SCHENECTADY, NY – Sophomore Hayley McMeekin scored two goals and added an assist as Quinnipiac defeated Union in women's ECAC Hockey League action at Messa Rink Saturday afternoon. Union goaltender Amanda Hanson (Brainerd, MN) made 43 saves in the loss.

 

The Bobcats (7-16-0, 4-11-0 ECACHL) jumped out to a three-goal first-period lead on goals by McMeekin, Natasha Pellat and Elyse Cole. Pellat's shot beat Hanson on the high glove side at 10:43 of the period. Cole followed less than three minutes later with her ninth goal of the season. McMeekin picked up a power-play tally with 1:41 left in the stanza.

 

Quinnipiac's Antoinette Maldonado added a power-play score at 5:21 of the middle frame for her sixth goal of the year.

 

Union's best scoring chance came midway through the second period as Elise Nichols (Pittsfield, MA) and Brenna Malnar (Soughgate, MI) came in on a two-on-one. Nichols carried the puck down the right and slid the puck across the crease to Malnar, whose shot went just wide of the far side of the net.

 

The Bobcats tacked on two more in the third period, the first from McMeekin at 8:01 and the latter coming three minutes later from Kallie Flor. Breanna Burton centered the puck and Janine Duffy deflected it across the right to Flor, who flipped the puck over Hanson.

 

Union (4-15-0, 0-11-0 ECACHL) gave up a power-play tally for the first time since December 9, as the Bobcats converted two of 10 power-play opportunities. Quinnipiac held a 49-23 shot advantage in the game.

 

Union is back in action Sunday afternoon in a 2 p.m. ECACHL game against Princeton at Messa Rink.