Fresh off a Nutmeg Classic title last week, the Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey team defeated Union 4-1 to begin a home back-to-back at M&T Bank Arena.

Early on, the Bobcats were tested with solid forechecking pressure from Union, and knew they were in for a battle from the opening puck drop. 

“I’m really impressed with our team’s resilience and toughness. Union is not an easy team to play against,” Head coach Cass Turner said postgame. “They’re relentless, they forecheck so hard, and they did some things that made us uncomfortable, but I thought we kept bouncing back…( I’m) happy with the three points in conference play.” 

After some up and down, fast paced action provided by both teams, the Bobcats opened the scoring with a wraparound goal by first-year forward Emerson Jarvis, scoring her fifth goal of the season. 

“I think for (Jarvis), her speed is such an asset for her,” Turner said of her young forward. “To see her beat players to pucks and to backcheck the way she is, I think she was outstanding and I think her goal showed that she has a knack for the back of the net” 

As Union searched for the equalizer with relentless pressure, the Bobcats struck gold again with co-captain Kate Reilly creating space to make a cross-crease pass to first-year forward Kahlen Lamarche, who finished off the play to make it 2-0 to the Bobcats. 

With that assist, Reilly became the all time leader in program history for points by a defenseman. 

“Kate is a phenomenal leader. I think the thing that separates Kate from other athletes is her relentless effort to get better…she finds a way and she continues to improve…she does a great job for this team.” Turner said.

Reilly detailed the play from her eyes as it developed in real time. 

“I had a two on one earlier, and I [messed} it up, so I was just excited to be back, and I just saw [Lamarche] and I saw [the puck] go into the net, and I love when we score, so I was happy.” Reilly said of the goal she assisted on. 

However, Union did not lose faith and continued to play hard, getting rewarded with a goal with 2:30 left to go in the second period when sphomore forward Riley Walsh put home a slot feed from first-year forward Maddie Leaney through the legs of Quinnipiac goaltender Logan Angers. 

Union continued to put more pressure on the Bobcats to end the third period, energized by their sudden equalizer.

The Bobcats settled down to begin the third period, and six minutes in, they picked up an all important third goal of the game. Courtesy of the forechecking of graduate forward Jess Schryver, Schruver put a move on Union goaltender Sophie Matsoukas to tuck the puck into the back of the net. 

Schryver wasn’t done just yet, as she got her second goal of the game with just over a minute and half remaining in the game, scoring off of her own rebound. 

“I feel like overall, I get stuck in this defensive mindset, but going into the game today, I was just set offensively and also defensively.” Schryver said of her performance. 

In response to Schryver’s big game, Turner commended her graduate forward for her play and her ability to rise to the occasion with the game on the line. 

“To see Jess score two goals and step up when we really needed her to was awesome.” Turner said.

The Bobcats move to 15-3-0 on the season and are right back on the ice on Saturday to take on RPI. Puck drop is slated for 3 p.m.