The Quinnipiac Bobcats (1-1-0 overall, 0-0-0 Eastern College Athletic Conference) will return to Hamden, Connecticut for their home opener on Saturday at 4 p.m. against the Providence Friars (2-0-0 overall, 1-0-0 Hockey East) for the second game of a home-and-home series. The Bobcats took on the Friars in the first game Friday in Providence, losing 3-1. The Friars entered the series undefeated and will look to continue that streak.
Players to Watch
Some key players to watch in this weekend’s matchup are Abby Cleary, T.T. Cianfarano, and Brooke Boquist. Sophomore forward Abby Cleary is off to a hot start for the Bobcats in 2017, with a goal and an assist in two games, and is a plus-2 on the ice. Look for Cleary to continue shooting and build on solid first two games. Through two games, senior Forward T.T. Cianfarano has two assists and leads the Bobcats with seven shots. If Cianfarano keeps shooting at the same pace, it’s just a matter of time before she finds the back of the net for the Bobcats.
The Friars will look for senior forward Brooke Boquist to build upon a strong 2016-2017 campaign in which she tallied 18 goals and 14 assists for 32 overall points. Boquist will no doubt be a main focus for a Bobcats team that will need to shut down the Friars offense in order to win.
Keys to the game
Quinnipiac – Defense
The Friars return four of their top-five point scorers from a team that was a high powered offense a season ago. If the Friars can continue their offensive success, it’s going to be a tough night for the Bobcats. If the Bobcats can stay disciplined and play tough defense, their offense will be able to flourish at home in their own building. Expect head coach Cassandra Turner to emphasize defense as the Bobcats look to go over .500 on the season.
Providence – Stay out of the Penalty Box
This Bobcats team has been extremely good on the power play, with most of their success coming from their top line of T.T. Cianfarano, Melissa Samoskevich, and Sarah-Eve Couto-Godbout. The Bobcats scored three power play goals in their exhibition game against Concordia, and added another in their 4-2 loss to Maine last weekend. Look for the Friars to play with great discipline in order to keep the Bobcats power play unit off the ice.
The Game
Make sure to tune in to QBSN’s live broadcast of Quinnipiac vs. Providence from the High Point Solutions Arena in Hamden, Connecticut. Jonathan Banks and Ryan Flaherty will be on the call of the game. For live updates throughout the game, follow @QBSN, @jonathanbanks8_, and @RyanFlaherty18 on Twitter.
