The Quinnipiac Bobcats won their season-opening exhibition game vs. the UConn Huskies in a 4-3 overtime comeback victory.
In the first period, the players were still getting their feet back under them. There weren’t many high-danger chances, and the period ended tied at zero.
“We were really working hard to get a little more comfortable with the puck,” said head coach Cassandra Turner. “It definitely was first-game jitters.”
After going down 3-1 six minutes into the third period, the Bobcats started to turn the tide. The team stayed positive throughout the whole game.
“We have girls that are just so happy to drive this team forward in the locker room, even when we’re down,” said graduate defenseman Kate Reilly.
Logan Angers is entering her sixth season as a graduate student; she is the clear No. 1 goaltender. But who will back her up? Cass Turner had all three goalies getting game action.
“It’s awesome to get them in the net. It’s one thing to be in practice and then it’s another to have that excitement of a game and to have those jitters,” Turner said.
First-year Lucy Phillips played the second period, making 11 saves on 13 shots while looking solid in her first collegiate game.
While Phillips let up two goals, she can’t fully be blamed. The first goal was shot from the top of the offensive zone. Phillips made the first save but couldn’t corral it. The puck sat in the crease before it got pushed in by UConn’s senior forward Jada Habisch. The second goal Phillips let up was a three-on-one odd-man rush for the Huskies. Phillips again made the first save, but the rebound popped out in the high slot and sophomore forward Kyla Josifovic shot it into the back of the net.
Sophomore goaltender Tatum Blacker played in the third period. She gained more confidence as the period went on. Blacker made nine saves on 10 shots. The one goal she let up was on a UConn power play. The Huskies had gained possession and were moving the puck well. Coryn Tormala got the puck at the top of the right circle and wired a shot to the top right corner.
The Bobcats got a crucial goal from defenseman Maddy Samoskevich. The team went to the powerplay with 3:25 left in the game. UConn was ahead 3-2 and it was do-or-die for the Bobcats. Samoskevich got it at the point and sent a shot to the top right corner to tie the game with 2:25 left to play.
The Bobcats defense accounted for five of 11 points on the afternoon slate. Reilly had one goal, Samoskevich had one goal, senior Kendall Cooper had one assist and sophomore Zoe Uens had two assists.
“[Uens] really was ready to attack. She had a phenomenal summer in terms of training and has a lot to offer. She certainly showed that today,” Turner said.
The Bobcats open their regular season against the University of Maine this upcoming Friday, Sept. 29 at home, starting at 6 p.m.
