The Quinnipiac Bobcats women’s ice hockey team (20-3-3, 11-2-2 ECAC) hosted the Harvard Crimson (14-3-2, 12-2-1 ECAC) tonight at the High Point Solutions Arena. Coming into the night Harvard and Quinnipiac were ranked fourth and fifth in the nation respectively, despite the latter playing 7 more games than the former.
After dropping their last two contests, the Bobcats are looking to rediscover their winning ways in this critical conference matchup. Back in early December the Crimson handed the Bobcats their first loss of the year, and that loss was still in the back of their minds as they took to the ice tonight.
But the Bobcats were unable to redeem themselves. After three periods the score was tied 1-1, but it was the Crimson that prevailed in overtime by a score of 2-1.
The puck dropped and the Bobcats were off to the races. Quinnipiac’s fore-check was relentless from the get-go and it prevented Harvard from establishing any sort of offensive rhythm.
“The first 60 minutes, I think we held them to about 15 shots, and played great in all 3 zones,” seventh year Quinnipiac head coach Rick Seeley said.
But luckily for Harvard, Quinnipiac was struggling to generate scoring chances as well, with only five total shots on net in the first 11 minutes of play.
The Bobcats did manage to get a power play chance but were unable to capitalize and the first period ended without a goal.
Quinnipiac was finally able to possess the puck in Harvard’s territory at the start of the second period, and it didn’t take long to score. Just over two minutes in, senior forward Shiann Darkangelo fired a shot on net. Crimson goalie Emerance Maschmeyer was unable to cover up the puck and it squirted out to junior forward Nicole Kosta who found the back of the net.
The Bobcats narrowly missed their second goal about 10 minutes later. Kosta skated through the slot and found Darkangelo in front of the net. But Maschmeyer was able to shovel the shot aside to keep it a one-goal deficit.
Quinnipiac was dominating the second period, but Harvard finally found something that worked. With just under six minutes to go they were controlling the pace in Bobcat territory, and Sydney Daniels was able to find Kalley Armstrong who snuck the puck past senior goalie Chelsea Laden.
Both teams were working the puck around and trying to get the best shot possible for the first few minutes of the third, but neither team saw success. Both sides picked up the efforts on their respective fore-checking and shots became few and far between. Halfway through the period the Bobcats held a large advantage in that category, 23-13.
With about 7 minutes to go the game transformed into a purely defensive battle. Both teams were clogging the passing lanes and it made for a lot of individual offense. Neither side was able to break the tie, so the coaches had to prepare for overtime.
Prior to this game, Harvard hadn’t won any of their three overtime games, while Quinnipiac hadn’t lost any of their four overtime contests. But that all changed when Harvard’s Sarah Edney found the back of the net with a minute and a half to play.
The goal was reviewed to see if Edney kicked the puck into the net, but there was no conclusive evidence on whether or not a kicking motion was made. The goal stood, and Harvard was credited with their second 2-1 victory over Quinnipiac this season.
But despite losing his third straight game, Seeley was in good spirits.
“I thought it was a great college hockey game,” Seeley said. “It’s just a little deflating when you come out on the wrong end.”
He went to say how impressed he was with his team in carrying out their fore-checks and back-checks.
“And as I said, as a coach you have to be happy with a game like that,” Seeley said.
The Bobcats have another chance to rebound tomorrow night when they host Dartmouth at 4 P.M. in Hamden, Connecticut.
