By Marty Joseph, QBSN Staff Writer
Following a four-point weekend on the road in the final week of the regular season the women’s ice hockey team will host the team it jumped in the ECAC standings for the fourth overall seed, the Saint Lawrence Saints. The Bobcats played well down the stretch posting a 7-1-2 record in their final 10 games to lock up home-ice advantage in the quarterfinal round. The Saints struggled to lock up home ice only winning one of their last five and losing an opportunity to host a first round playoff series in the final weekend of the regular season.
Keys for St. Lawrence:
The Saints need to turn the page and move on from February and into March with the same mentality that won them the ECAC tournament championship last season. Senior Kelly Sabatine proved she was a postseason player last season by scoring the game-winning goal late in the championship game on the road at Cornell.
Sophomore goaltender Carmen MacDonald also needs to be strong in net for the Saints if they want to go on another playoff run. MacDonald’s numbers declined compared to last season but she still has the experience of last season in her favor.
The Saints third period was their strongest this season, so look for them to keep the game close and try to win games in the third period.
Keys for Quinnipiac:
The Bobcats need to continue to ride the momentum of the final month of the regular season. Look for the offense to be carried by the usual cast of Kelly Babstock, Nicole Kosta, Erica Uden Johansson, and Regan Boulton.
The Bobcats will play at home in the playoffs for just the second time in program history. This season the Bobcats played some of their best hockey at the High Point Solutions Arena posting a 10-3-2 record. The Bobcats need to relax and feed off the energy of playing in their own building.
Victoria Vigilanti is the biggest key for the Bobcats in the series and beyond in the team wants to make a run in the tournament. Vigilanti posted a 5-1-1 record in her final seven starts only surrendering four goals in those games and posting three shutouts. If Vigilanti continues on her recent tear, it’s lights out for St. Lawrence.
