The Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey team defeated St. Lawrence by a score of 2-1 to advance to the programs’ first ECAC Hockey Championship.

The Bobcats (28-2-5, 16-2-4 ECAC) clawed their way to the win in the semifinals.

The difficulties were created in large part by the Saints’ (17-14-6, 9-8-5 ECAC) defensive game plan.

The Saints’ conservative defensive style limited the space on the ice for the Bobcats to create many strong scoring chances.

However, the Bobcats still dominated the play in offensive time on ice. Quinnipiac attempted 73 shots throughout the game, 32 of which were blocked.

In addition to the blocked shots, St. Lawrence held all six forwards on the Bobcats top two lines to 13 shots on goal.

This strong defensive showing required offense from less common places for the Bobcats to win.

The first Quinnipiac goal came from junior defender Emma Greco in the second period.

While the Bobcats were changing lines, Greco carried the puck into the offensive zone to stall for her teammates. Firing a shot at the goal, it deflected off a stick and into the net.

The goal is Greco’s second on the season as well as her career.

Greco discussed St. Lawrence’s tough defensive style after the game.

“We always know they’re going to come out hard. (During) my years at Quinnipiac, they usually get better throughout the year,” Greco said. “So there’s definitely a different look between the first game and the second game. I knew it was going to be just as hard, even harder than the last time.”

St. Lawrence stayed in the game with their power play.

The Saints’ failed to convert on their first opportunity but put up a strong performance with shots on goal.

Despite Quinnipiac goaltender Sydney Rossman being up to the task on all of the goals, it was clear that given another chance St. Lawrence could capitalize.

That chance came 25 seconds into the third period.

Senior Lindsey West went to the box for interference in the final minute of the second period. The power play carried over to the third period and St. Lawrence’s Hannah Miller fired it home off the post to tie the game.

Head coach Cassandra Turner described her team’s ability to compose themselves following the goal.

“It’s been the process all season and something to learn from,” Turner said. “I had a good feeling about the game when I saw the looks on our player’s faces in that moment. I knew we were calm and that we were going to be in the right place.”

The rest of the third period was more of the same. The teams traded chances back and forth with Quinnipiac’s chances being blocked down by St. Lawrence’s defense.

Saints’ netminder Grace Harrison smothered up the chances that came her way, finishing the game with 26 saves.

The Bobcats’ then found the back of the net with a rebound opportunity.

Once again Quinnipiac was changing on the fly for the ultimate game winner. West carried the puck down the boards and fired a shot off Harrison’s pads.

Quinnipiac’s Raquel Pennoyer chipped the rebound to Meghan Turner whose shot was blocked.

Right from the bench, Quinnipiac’s Randi Marcon hustled to a trailing position of the play and stuffed the puck into the net for her fourth goal of the season.

Marcon’s goal would decide the game as the Bobcats won 2-1.

The Bobcats will face second-seeded Clarkson in the ECAC Championship Sunday at 2 p.m.