The Colgate Raiders came into Friday night’s game against Quinnipiac looking for their first in-conference win, but they will have to wait until they go down I-95 and into New Jersey for another chance at a win.
The Quinnipiac Bobcats defeated the Colgate Raiders 6-0 at the High Point Solutions Arena. In a game with comparable shots on goal between the two teams, the Bobcats’ shots found the back of the net at a furious clip.
Kelly Babstock (Mississagua, Ontario) contributed a four-point performance en route to the Bobcats’ victory, scoring a goal and contributing three assists.
Chelsea Laden (Lakeville, Minn.) contributed a 20-save shutout to the Bobcats’ cause, earning her third shutout of the young season.
“[Laden] was solid,” head coach Rick Seeley said. “She had a couple instances where she looked a little shaky but she’s been solid all year for us like that. In a couple desperate situations when we were shorthanded, she kind of shut the door and made it difficult for them.”
The Bobcats opened up scoring seven and a half minutes into the game when Babstock capitalized on a Colgate tripping penalty, scoring to Colgate goaltender Brittney Brooks’ right side, giving the Bobcats a 1-0 lead.
The first period ended with the lone Babstock goal, but the Raiders outshot the Bobcats 10-9 in the first period.
“The first period was OK,” Seeley said. “We started the game well, the forecheck was pretty strong, we were sticking passing lanes, but I don’t think the intensity was there.”
That would change in the second period, as the Bobcats outshot the Raiders 9-4.
The shot disparity resulted in a larger goal gap. Emma Woods (Burford, Ontario) scored seven minutes into the second period off Babstock’s first assist of the night. The shot came in on Brooks’ right side.
Later in the period, Shiann Darkangelo [Brighton, Mich.] scored on a goal that was originally credited to senior captain Amanda Colin (Burnsville, Minn.).
“I think we just kind of transitioned quick out of the d-zone,” Colin said. “[Darkangelo] got the puck and she just took off. We’ve really been working on our middle drive and I just kind of pulled back. [Darkangelo] shot and the puck trickled into the net.”
Sophomore Olivia Agostinelli (Framingham, Mass.) also had a hand in creating the opportunity for a goal, according to Seeley.
“[Agostinelli] had a phenomenal shift to create that goal,” Seeley said. “She had a great breakout off the boards, and we made a change, then we lost the puck and then we got it back to Darkangelo and that started that goal.”
In the third period, the Bobcats pelted Colgate with 11 shots on net.
Nicole Connery (Newmarket, Ontario) scored five minutes into the period with a goal just in front of the crease. Later in the period, Cydney Roesler (Stittsville, Ontario) scored her first career goal when she sent one past the goaltender to give the Bobcats a five-goal lead. Minutes later, Kristen Tamberg (North Toronto, Ontario) netted her first career goal off a shot from just above the right faceoff circle, sealing the rout for the Bobcats.
This was the Bobcats’ second conference win of the season, and second straight win. They will look tomorrow to play No. 3 ranked Cornell at home.
“We beat them last year when we played them and could have won on the road in their place,” Seeley said. “So I think we’re in their heads a little bit, but our girls will be up for it and we’re pretty excited about it.”
