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Quinnipiac women hold off Saints in hockey, 3-2

Posted 1/8/11

The Quinnipiac University women's hockey team scored three goals in the first period on Friday against St. Lawrence en route to a 3-2 conference victory at Appleton Arena. Brittany Lyons had a goal …

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Quinnipiac women hold off Saints in hockey, 3-2

Posted

The Quinnipiac University women's hockey team scored three goals in the first period on Friday against St. Lawrence en route to a 3-2 conference victory at Appleton Arena. Brittany Lyons had a goal and an assist for the Bobcats, who out-shot the Saints 34-20 in the win.

St. Lawrence falls back to .500 on the season at 9-9-2 (4-4-0) after the loss, while Quinnipiac improves to 14-7-1 (7-6-0). Graduate student Maxie Weisz finished with 31 saves in the game, while Bobcat netminder Victoria Vigilanti made 18 stops. The Scarlet and Brown were whistled for eight penalties in the game, though the team allowed only a single power play goal.

"I give Quinnipiac credit, they came out and played hard from the opening draw," said St. Lawrence Associate Head Coach Ted Wisner. "We were unable to convert on several quality chances, and we played undisciplined at times tonight for which I take responsibility."

The visitors took an early 1-0 lead on an even-strength goal by Eric Uden Johansson at 4:52 of the first period. Kelly Babstock sent a perfect centering pass from outside the left circle into the slot and Uden Johansson snapped a one-timer past Weisz's glove and under the crossbar for her ninth goal of the year. Bethany Dymarczyk was also credited with an assist.

Lyons gave the Bobcats a 2-0 cushion at 9:15 with her team's lone power play goal. The play was nearly identical to the opening goal, as Felica Vieweg set up Lyons which a great pass from the blue line and a one-timer once again beat Weisz inside the near post.

The Saints would get on the scoreboard at 12:15 of the first when senior Lauren Brozowski finished off a great play by rookie Bailey Habscheid for her third tally of the season. Habscheid skated through the neutral zone, used a 360 move to elude a defender, and then centered a picturesque pass into the crease for Brozowski, who tipped the puck behind Vigilanti to bring the score to 2-1.

Quinnipiac would respond only 5:24 later, though, to take a 3-1 lead into the opening intermission. Lyons got the play started, as she fed a pass to the blue line for Amanda Colin. Colin lofted a shot towards Weisz which bounced on the ice and through the goalie's pads, trickling across the line for her third goal of the season at 17:39. The goal capped a first period that saw the Bobcats outshoot St. Lawrence 12-8.

The two teams played to a scoreless second period, as both Weisz and Vigilanti were solid between the pipes. Weisz made two dazzling saves including a kick-save to rob a Quinnipiac forward, which Vigilanti flashed her glove early in the third period on a 2-on-1 shot by sophomore Michelle Ng.

Quinnipiac did an outstanding job of blocking shots in the final minutes of the game, setting up barriers in front of their goal. However, sophomore Kelly Sabatine scored her ninth goal of the season with just under 1:00 minute remaining in regulation to pull the Saints to within one at 3-2. Sabatine pounced on a rebound in front of Vigilanti for the extra-attacker goal, with assists going to junior Alley Bero and sophomore Jamie Goldsmith.

St. Lawrence was able to get the puck deep after calling a timeout, and junior Vanessa Emond had a chance to Vigilanti's left but her shot was deflected wide by a Bobcat defender. Quinnipiac was able to push the puck down the ice and hold on for a narrow 3-2 victory.

Quinnipiac closed with a 1-for-8 mark on the power play, while St. Lawrence was 0-for-2 with the extra skater.

The Saints will look to earn a weekend split tomorrow, Saturday, January 8 when the team squares off with Princeton University at 4:00pm.