By Peter Rossi, QBSN Staff Writer

The Quinnipiac Bobcats (0-1-1, 0-0-0 ECAC) and Mercyhurst Lakers (3-0-1, 2-0-0 CHA) met in the second game of the Bobcats opening weekend at the High Point Solutions Arena at the TD Bank Sports Center, a game not for the faint of heart.  The Bobcats fell to the Lakers, 4-3.

The Lakers jumped out to a 1-0 in the first period when freshman Jenna Dingeldein skated around Bobcats freshman defender Lindsey West (Ajax, Ontario) in the neutral zone as West tried to pinch along the boards. West lost the puck, and the resulting two –on-one saw Dingeldein firing a pass to sophomore Kristine Grenier through the skates of senior Quinnipiac defenseman Felica Vieweg (Port Orange, Florida). Grenier deked Bobcats sophomore goalie Chelsea Laden (Lakeville, Minn.) to put it home. The period would end 1-0 in favor of the Lakers, with Mercyhurst outshooting the Bobcats 11-8.

The second period would prove more eventful as the Bobcats had to weather a Lakers’ storm of goals and forechecking. Things looked bright for the Bobcats when just 16 seconds into the period, sophomore Nicole Kosta (Mississauga, Ontario) found the back of the net off a pass from sophomore Kelly Babstock (Mississauga, Ontario).  Kosta fired a shot that went past the glove of Mercyhurst goalie Stephanie Ciampa, off the post, then crossbar, and into the back of the net.

With the goal, Kosta broke Babstock’s scoring record of eight consecutive games, making this the ninth straight game in which Kosta has had a point. Quinnipiac Head Coach Rick Seeley knows just how important the first line of Kosta, Babstock and Erica Uden Johanssen (Sundsvall, Sweden) is to the team.

“It’s vital; they’re the only ones producing right now. But right now Bab’s line has picked up right where they left off,” Seeley said.

The bounces then began to go in favor of Mercyhurst when senior defenseman Stephanie Desutter walked in from the blue line, skated around the Bobcats players, and fired a backhander under the glove of Laden, giving the Lakers the 2-1 lead. The goal was assisted by sophomore Shelby Bram and senior Lauren Jones.

The Lakers caught a break when Grenier took a shot on goal, which was deflected by Laden in the air. Felicia Vieweg (Port Orange, Fla.) swiped at it, and hit the puck right out of the air and into the back of her own net, giving Mercyhurst the 3-1 lead. Credit was given to Grenier, her second of the game, for being the last Laker to touch the puck.

The Bobcats had a couple of late chances, but the period ended with the Lakers up 3-1. Quinnipiac was outshot in the period 21-4, Laden preventing an even larger deficit.

“Chelsea has proven herself at this level,” Seeley said. “There was no reason not to play her.”

The third period proved to be the most exciting of the afternoon, with Quinnipiac trying to come back from an intimidating deficit.

Quinnipiac tried to take advantage of two power-play opportunities to try and mount a comeback, but it was met again by the excellent penalty killing of Mercyhurst. The period would follow the same script of Mercyhurst keeping Quinnipiac on the ropes.

That was until Mercyhurst junior captain Christine Bestland slid a loose puck under Laden out of a net mouth scramble to put Mercyhurst up 4-1, with the assist going to senior Kelsey Welch and sophomore Vaila Higson, who made the initial shot.

Exactly one minute later, Kosta skated from the far corner to the front of the Laker net and shot the puck right onto the crest of Ciampa. She left a rebound that Babstock put away under her glove. The goal cut the Bobcats deficit to 4-2, with time to still try a comeback.

Gina Buquet was then called for her third penalty of the game, sending the Bobcats to their fourth power play. One minute into the power-play, Lakers defensemen Molly Byrne was called for cross checking, putting the Bobcats on the two man advantage. Babstock fired a pass to Kosta at the faceoff circle, who then slid it to senior captain Regan Boulton (Brandon, Manitoba).  Boulton fired a slap shot up high, beating Ciampa and bringing the score to 4-3. It was Kosta’s third point of the night.

Quinnipiac would remain on the power play for the rest of the game and had numerous chances, but it was too little too late.

The Bobcats ended the day 1-5 on the power-play opportunities and Mercyhurst 0-1.

Quinnipiac will return to action next weekend as Maine comes to the High Point Solutions Arena at the TD Bank Sports Center 5:00 p.m. on Friday and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.