In the first event ever hosted in the newly-christened M&T Bank Arena, No. 8 Quinnipiac women’s hockey routed No. 15 Boston College on Friday night by a score of 5-0, highlighted by a hat trick from freshman forward Madison Chantler and stellar defensive play that allowed only 13 shots on goal. 

From the opening faceoff, the Eagles had no chance. The Bobcats dominated offensive possession for the first five minutes of the matchup until senior forward Alexa Hoskin wrapped around the Boston College defense, burying a wrister past graduate student goaltender Abigail Levy to make the score 1-0 at the 6:41 mark. 

The tone was set. By the end of the first period, the Bobcats put 18 shots on net compared to the Eagles’ five. It would never be that close again. 

Quinnipiac doubled its lead four minutes into the second period as Chantler put home a rebound off a Courtney Vorster shot, scoring her first-ever collegiate goal. It was also more of the same from the defense, as graduate student goaltender Logan Angers saved all three shots the women in front of her allowed her way. 

“(Angers) has a strong mental approach to the game,” Quinnipiac head coach Cassandra Turner said. “I wasn’t surprised to see her poise in those moments.” 

The third period was when the Bobcats’ offense roared, scoring three goals in the period. One from sophomore forward Maya Labad and two more from Chantler, which gave the 17-year-old her first-ever collegiate hat trick. 

Chantler’s third goal came on a breakaway with five minutes to go as she polished off a breakaway shot from senior forward Jess Schryver to give the Bobcats a five-goal advantage. 

“After the third goal, I was like, ‘no way this just happened,’” Chantler said. “And my parents were here. They watched me play a college game, so it’s pretty exciting just for them to see that.” 

With the 5-0 lead, the aforementioned Bobcats’ defense spent the final five minutes helping Angers close out the team’s second-straight shutout after doing the same to Maine on Sept. 24.

Officially, Quinnipiac has not allowed a goal in its past 149:40 of game time. The last goal scored on a Quinnipiac goaltender was done by Maine sophomore forward Mira Seregely, who put one past Angers late in the second period of their game on Sept. 23.  

Despite the phenomenal defensive play and goaltending, it was Chantler’s performance on the offensive end that ensured the Bobcats their first win against Boston College since November 2013 and what is likely one of the largest wins over a ranked opponent in program history. 

“(Chantler)’s a big-time player,” Turner said. “She plays with such confidence and is incredibly coachable and is calm when you talk to her on the bench. And she’s had that poise under pressure for years.”

Even though the two programs had not faced off since October 2017, the Bobcats themselves may have been surprised by their performance against the Eagles.

“I don’t think we were expecting this,” Hoskin said. “We never underestimate our opponents and we never overestimate our opponent. So, I think we stuck to our game plan and came out hard. The energy this week in practice was amazing.” 

With the victory in its possession, Quinnipiac will look to continue its unbeaten start on Sunday, Oct. 2, when they will face off against their fourth straight Hockey East opponent, New Hampshire, at 4 p.m.