HAMDEN, Conn. — Tensions were high leading up to the conference game in the Nutmeg State, but Quinnipiac's offense found their stride quickly in their home rink, as the Union College women's hockey team fell, 6-2, at Frank Perrotti Jr. Arena on Friday night.

Senior goaltender Amelia Murray got her first start since October against the fiery Bobcats and stopped 40 shots. While Murray's effort was there, the Bobcats were able to find their strategy to get on the board quickly. This game was the battle of the ECAC foes, as five points now separate the two teams in the final push to clinch a playoff spot. With the road loss, the Dutchwomen fall to 5-19-5 (5-9-3 ECAC). Quinnipiac continues their hot streak and goes 16-10-3 on the season (8-7-2 ECAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• 5:06 1st (QU 1-0) | Lexie Adzija grabbed the puck from along the boards and gave it to her linemate, Taylor House. House passed it in the front of the net to Taylor Girard, who scored to make it a 1-0 game early.
• 9:51 1st (Union 1-1) | The Dutchwomen didn't want to go into intermission without getting on the board. First-year Leah Herrfort grabbed the puck from classmate Carmen Merlo, and dangled it past the Bobcat defense, to score and tie the game at 1 going into the first intermission.
• 2:59 2nd (QU 2-1) | Kati Tabin passed the puck from their defensive zone to House, who was in the Bobcats offensive zone and scored from the rebound off Murray's pads. Zoe Boyd was credited with the secondary assist on the play.
• 10:32 2nd (QU 3-1) | Grace Markey passed the puck from the boards to an open Sadie Peart, who was able to get it past the Union defense to increase the Bobcat lead to two. Katie Huntington grabbed the secondary assist on the third Quinnipiac goal of the game.
• 15:49 2nd (QU 4-1) | Quinnipiac's top line is lethal, and this goal was no exception. House scored her second of the game to close the second period off, with assists from Girard and Adzija. This line had seven points combined through two periods of play.
• 6:06 3rd (QU 5-1) | Just when you thought the Bobcats were done, Kati Tabin scored for Quinnipiac, off an assist from Laura Lundblad, to make it 5-1.
• 8:00 3rd (Union 5-2) | To decrease the Quinnipiac lead, junior Megan Ryan was able to get the puck past Abbie Ives to grab Union's second of the game. Ryan's goal, which was assisted by senior Rachel de Perio, was the sixth of her season, creates a new career-high for goals in a season for the junior.
• 15:01 3rd (QU 6-2) | Kate Reilly wound up from the blue line and got it in the net to seal the 6-2 victory for the Bobcats at home.

GAME NOTES:

• Union was outshot by the Bobcats, 46-19 on the night. Herrfort led all Dutchwomen with six shots of her own.
• Murray stopped 40 shots in her first career start since October.
• Ryan led all players in blocked shots, with four.

WHAT'S NEXT:

The Dutchwomen continue their weekend road trip with a trip to Princeton to take on the nationally-ranked Tigers on Saturday, February 8. Puck drop is scheduled for 3 p.m. in New Jersey.