By Peter Rossi, QBSN Staff Writer

Last Time out: The Quinnipiac Bobcats women’s ice hockey team evened its ECAC Quarterfinals series with the St. Lawrence University Saints at one game apiece with junior Amanda Colin’s goal just about halfway through the third overtime period, lifting Quinnipiac to the 3-2 victory.  It was also Colin’s second of the game, with senior Kristen Eklund finding the back of the net for her first goal of the season.  The Saints did not make it easy on Quinnipiac, as the Bobcats squandered a two goal lead with a minute left in regulation play.

Focus for today:

The Bobcats need to try to get this one in regulation. Having played four overtime periods of hockey in two days is going to be taxing on not only the Bobcats, but the Saints as well. It was easy to see players from both teams last night begin to feel the effects of playing almost two straight hockey games in one day. The Bobcats have gotten the jump on the Saints at the start of both games earlier in the series, so St. Lawrence must be ready to whether the storm at the onset, as they looked like the more tired of the two squads at the end of the game yesterday.

Keys for Quinnipiac:

1. Keep attacking on offense. The Bobcats fore-check has kept the Saints hemmed into their own zone for most of the play during the two games of this series, and at times has caused trouble for the Saints.
2. Where’s Babstock? So far, Kelly Babstock has been held of the score sheet, but not for lack of trying. She has easily been one of Quinnipiac’s best forwards, but still has nothing to show for it. It will be hard to keep Babstock at bay three games in a row, so look for her to do something big in game 3.
3. Victoria Vigilanti has been the Bobcats best player so far in the series, and she needs to continue her brilliance between the pipes if the Bobcats have any hope of ending this series on a high note.  Despite giving up two late goals yesterday, Vigilianti was rock solid in the overtime periods. The senior is not going to go out in her final year without a fight, and the Bobcats need to ride that momentum and fire.

Keys for the Saints:

1. Carmen MacDonald also has been the Saints best player. MacDonald robbed some Bobcats on Friday night, allowing her team to get that first goal of the series as well as win. Despite the immense pressure the Bobcats put on MacDonald, she has continually shut the door on Quinnipiac, staying in the heads of the Bobcats that it would take something of either luck or brilliance to beat her.
2. The top offensive players for the Saints need to get going. Kelly Sabatine has been relatively quiet so far in the series, and St. Lawrence must realize that while her leadership is second to none, her scoring is as well, but it has yet to reveal itself. Should the Saints co-captain finally find her scoring touch, the Bobcats will be in for a tough game.
3. One of the main reasons St. Lawrence has kept Quinnipiac from racking up the score is the ability and fearlessness of the Saints defenders to block shots. Quinnipiac has had many opportunities to get the puck on net, but with defenseman like Brooke Fernandez and Amanda Boulier, the Bobcats have had a rough go at it. With Boulier being the best defender for the Saints, racking up the ice time numbers as well, will be interesting to see after two long games, is the Saints defense battered and bruised enough to pack it in.