HAMDEN, Conn.- The Quinnipiac Bobcats took down the Bentley Falcons 4-3 off a two-goal performance from freshman Sam Anas (Potomac, Md.) Tuesday night.
Anas’ performance put the Bobcats over the top, despite a three-goal effort by the Falcons on 13 shots.
“We credit [our success] to our practices,” Anas said. “We play our practices like our games, there’s battles on the ice, and guys are getting hurt in practice because guys are fighting for a spot, or just we want to prepare for our game the right way and I credit a lot of our success to that.”
The Bobcats struck early off a goal from senior Jordan Samuels-Thomas (West Hartford, Conn.) 1:28 into the game. The goal came from the left faceoff circle, and rocketed past goaltender Braden Komm.
Quinnipiac would score again a few minutes later as Anas netted his first of the game a few feet from Samuels-Thomas’ shot in the left faceoff circle.
Bentley responded, as Alex Grieve netted his second goal of the season off a shot from just above the faceoff circle to pull Bentley within one.
Early in the second period, Anas secured his second goal of the game with a tough-angle shot just off the red line, which extended the Bobcats’ lead back up to two goals during a 5-on-3 served by Matt Maher and Jared Rickord.
“That final three goal was pretty legit,” head coach Rand Pecknold said. “He turned his body and looks at the net and goalie was dropped early for some reason and he recognized it. That was a really high-end play at this level or the NHL level. We’re excited to have him in the program, he’s definitely going to make our power play better, and the rest of his game is starting to round out a little bit. He’s got the potential to be a real good one.”
Senior Zach Tolkinen (Lino Lakes, Minn.) added to Quinnipiac’s lead on a power play goal, making the score 4-2.
The Bobcats would hold the Falcons to 13 shots on goal in the game. From Bentley’s side, the team took nine penalties in the game, prohibiting the team from generating a sustained attack.
“We dominated the majority of the game,” Pecknold said. “The shots were clearly lopsided. [The 4-3 score] is something that happens every once and a while. In the second period, they scored one goal on one shot. We weren’t perfect tonight, but we were really good and we found a way to win close late in the game.”
Sophomore goaltender Michael Garteig (Prince George, British Columbia) picked up his fourth win on the year with 10 saves.
“[Garteig] has been really good,” freshman defenseman Derek Smith (Apple Valley, Minn.) said. “He’s been there when we need him. He’s come up big. He makes the first save and gets the puck out on the second and third save.”
The Bobcats picked up their fourth win of the season, improving to 4-1-0. They will take on the College of the Holy Cross Crusaders in a home-and-home matchup on Oct. 25 and 26.
