The Boston College Eagles defeated the Quinnipiac Bobcats 4-1 on Saturday afternoon in the second game of the home and home series between the two teams.
Boston College (4-2-2) took advantage of strong special teams in a penalty-filled affair at the High Points Solutions Arena as the Eagles netted two power play goals and one goal that came short-handed that sealed the victory over Quinnipiac(5-2-1).
Early in the third period, the Eagles were leading 2-1 but found themselves on the penalty kill when Makenna Newkirk used strong board-play to gain possession of the puck in the offensive zone and found Caitrin Lonergan all alone in the slot. Lonergan made a quick move and finished with a chip over Rossman’s pad to give Boston College the two goal lead.
“It is something we have to learn. We have to go out there and win each battle,” Quinnipiac captain Emma Woods said. “Whether it is in our zone, the neutral zone, or their zone. We have to win those battles.”
Less than two minutes later, Andie Anastos delivered a strong pass to Kenzie Kent who snuck one past Rossman on the back door to give Boston College a 4-1 lead with less than nine minutes remaining that solidified the victory for the Eagles.
“I have to give a lot of credit BC today,” Quinnipiac head coach Cassandra Turner said. “We watched a lot of video on them leading into this weekend and they took a huge step from even yesterday to today. They were really ready to capitalize on their opportunities.”
The first period saw the same back and forth action from the day before as the Eagles and Bobcats each saw their goaltenders and defense hold strong before the scoring opportunities awoke in the second period.
After 90:28 minutes of scoreless play in the home and home series, the two teams traded power play goals early in the middle period.
The Eagles struck first, scoring started five minutes into the second period when Toni An Miano crashed the net and found a rebound off of Rossman’s pad waiting in the slot. Miano fell to her knees, but still found the back of the net to give the Eagles the 1-0 lead. The Bobcats’ penalty killing woes were just getting started, something Woods credits to a lack of confidence.
“Just being confident in our special teams,” Woods said. “It is something that shouldn’t be frustrating, we should be confident to have a penalty kill, kill it off, and have three good shifts after that.“
Less than 90 seconds later the Bobcats struck on the power play to tie it up. After a hooking call on Eagle’s Andie Anastos, Woods got the play started as she played the puck to Kati Tabin who found Taryn Baumgardt at the point. Baumgardt corralled the pass, saw an opening out in front and rifled one from the point past Burt to tie it at one.
Boston College took back the lead for good when Makenna Newkirk rifled one from the the left face-off circle five-hole on Rossman who originally made the save, but the puck trickled through the pads and crossed the goal line to give the Eagles the 2-1 lead in the second.
Quinnipiac will continue their season next Friday night as they travel to New Haven to face in-state rival Yale.
