Seniors lead the way on senior day for the Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey team as they defeated Rensselaer 4-0 in the final game of the regular season.
Connery, Kosta, and Brown, also deemed the “Nicole” line, recorded eight points between the three of them.
“I just know where they are gonna be,” Kosta said. “We talk to each other a lot on the bench.”
“We play a lot of tic-tac-toe hockey,” Connery said, “I know one of the other Nicoles is going to be there to back me up.”
Quinnipiac (26-2-5, 16-2-4 ECAC) will play a three game series against Rensselaer (10-15-7, 8-9-5 ECAC) in the first round of the ECAC playoffs starting February 26.
“We expect a good battle next weekend,” Quinnipiac head coach Cassandra Turner said.
Four minutes into the game, Connery cycled the puck up the half wall to Nicole Kosta. Kosta head-faked a Rensselaer defenseman and dropped the puck off to Emma Greco, who one-timed the slap shot to the top shelf.
In her 102nd game, Greco finally found the twine for the first time in her career. That goal is good for Greco’s fifth point of the season and the 13th of her career.
Toward the end of the first period, Melissa Samoskevich came out of the corner and gave an outstanding pass, splitting Rensselaer’s defense to Lindsey West skating in from the left point. West was unable to capitalize after an outstanding left pad save by Rensselaer goaltender Lovisa Selander.
“RPI is a tough team to play against. They really have good sticks, they battle hard to the net and have a strong goaltender,” Turner said.
Early in the second period, Kosta won a face off in the offensive zone to Connery. Connery protected the puck from multiple Rensselaer defenders and slipped a pass to Brown backhanded a shot to tally her sixth goal of the season and 18th of her career.
“Everything is just clicking,” Brown said.
Minutes later the Bobcats headed to the power play after Samoskevich was body checked by Rensselaer defenseman Jenn Godin.
On that power play Taryn Baumgardt, quarterbacking at the top of the umbrella, dished the puck off to Brown. Brown then split the Rensselaer penalty killers to find Kristen Tamberg for the one-timer, who found twine for her fourth goal of the season and sixth goal of her career.
“We’re definitely always proud of each other,” captain Cydney Roesler said. “It’s a thing of pride.”
With four minutes remaining in the second period Connery grabbed her third point of the night and the 98th point of her career on a shot from the slot. Unfortunately for Connery, there are no bonus points for style as she sniped that puck from one knee.
At this point, stay on Connery watch because she’s on quite the hot streak and will soon have her name in the rafters for reaching the 100-point mark in her career.
At the end of the second period the Bobcats exploded to a 4-0 lead and led in shots 31-8.
Selander stopped 21 shots and held the Bobcats scoreless in the third period. This win set a single season record for ECAC wins for the Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey program with 16.
Sydney Rossman now holds the single-season record for wins with 26.
As amazing of a stat that is, Turner said it best, “This night was really about the seniors.”
