BOX SCORE
HAMDEN, Conn. – Led by sophomore forward Kelly Babstock's two goals and one assist, the Quinnipiac women's ice hockey team skated to a 6-2 victory over Union on Friday evening at HighPoint Solutions Arena at the TD Bank Sports Center. The victory halts the Bobcats' five-game skid and improves their record to 11-8-2 in ECAC Hockey action (16-14-2 overall), while the loss drops Union to 2-17-2 in ECAC Hockey and 4-25-4 overall.
Quinnipiac found its offense on this night, as it hit the six-goal total for the second time this season. The Bobcats relied on its excellent power-play unit on the evening, receiving four of its six tallies on power-play opportunities. Overall, Quinnipiac went 4-for-7 on its extra skater advantages, while Union was 1-for-3 on its chances.
The Dutchwomen took a surprising early lead at the 2:53 mark into the first period, as sophomore forward Stefanie Thomson netted her team-leading seventh goal of the season. Senior forward Lauren Hoffman earned the assist on the score after intercepting a Quinnipiac pass in the team's attacking zone. Hoffman then dished the puck over to Thomson, who proceeded to control the puck and catch freshman goaltender Chelsea Laden out of position, wrapping the puck around her body and into the net.
Quinnipiac tied the score, 1-1, in the final minute of the first stanza on a power-play re-direction score from senior forward Kate Wheeler. Senior defenders Jordan Elkins and Bethany Dymarczyk each worked the puck up top, before Dymarczyk spotted Wheeler stationary on the backside of the net. She fired the pass over to Wheeler, who craftily deflected the puck between her legs and into the goal by freshman netminder Shenae Lundberg.
The Bobcats tallied yet another late goal in the second frame, taking the 2-1 lead with just 1:28 remaining in the period. Following a pass from sophomore forward Erica Uden Johansson, freshman forward Nicole Kosta emerged from behind the net with the puck and buried the shot near post.
The scoring opened up in the third period of action, beginning with Uden Johansson's power-play score at the 4:56 mark to increase the lead, 3-1. Junior defender Regan Boulton and Babstock were each credited with assists on the score.
Babstock's first goal of the came shortly after, netting a back-door goal at the 8:56 mark into the third period of play. Kosta, who had a fine night as well (one goal, two assists), found Babstock with a dark across ice where her fellow Mississauga native one-timed it into the net.
Quinnipiac extended the lead to 5-1 on Babstock's second goal at the 10:08 mark. Following a saved shot from Kosta, Babstock picked up the loose puck and jammed in the goal, setting off a celebration in front worthy of a career-defining moment for the sophomore forward. Kosta and junior forward Breann Frykas earned assists on the goal.
Union regained its footing with a goal at the 13:15 mark by junior forward Emma Rambo, but a score by sophomore forward Amanda Colin at the 18:23 mark of the third stanza sealed the game for Quinnipiac, giving the game its final score of 6-2. Frykas was credited with her second assist of the game on the goal.
Laden made 12 saves in goal before giving way to senior goaltender Michaela Spiessle, who made five saves between the pipes for the Bobcats. Union goalie Shenae Lundberg turned away 41 shots in net for the Dutchwomen.
Union returns to action tomorrow, February 18th, at 4:00 p.m. to take on Princeton for the final game of the 2011-2012 season.
