The Quinnipiac women’s hockey team closed out the 2023 calendar year with a dominant 7-0 win over the Long Island University Sharks.
Coming into the game, the two teams have faced off against each other five previous times. The Bobcats have only allowed one goal in those five matchups, the goal differential being 35-1.
It has been three weeks to the date since the Bobcats last played, defeating Princeton by a score of 6-5.
According to head coach Cass Turner, the team did not play well in that game but was still happy to see the team win against the Tigers. From being outshot to exposing some weaknesses for the Bobcats, the team used that film to not be flat-footed heading into this game right before taking on No. 6 Minnesota Duluth on Jan. 5 and Jan. 6.
“It was a little humbling. It’s nice to win a game that maybe you should have lost,” Turner said. “Being able to learn from it and keep moving forward.”
The offensive production for the Bobcats came from all over the board with five different goal scorers. First year Kahlen Lamarche and senior Kendall Cooper each scored two to lead the Bobcats to victory.
WHOK: After the first period of play, the Bobcats are up on the Sharks 3-0 with goals from Bac, Lamarche, and Cooper.
Listen live at https://t.co/8jZxQoUlLh as we will continue to provide period updates for the remainder of the contest.#NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/5ZGOwMay4m
— Quinnipiac Bobcats Sports Network (@QBSN) December 30, 2023
Defensively, the Bobcats continued to be one of the best when it came to allowing the puck near the net. The Sharks finished the night with 11 shots on goal and five through the first two periods.
This is the second time this season that the Bobcats have held an opponent under 15 shots on goal. The other time? Nov. 8 when Quinnipiac played Post University and won the game 12-1.
Senior linemate Maddy Samoskevich and Cooper have been on the same line since their first year in Hamden and have found that team success comes way before individual success is given out.
Cooper, who has been averaging just over a point a game was quick to deflect the two-goal night to her teammates around her.
“I don’t really like to think too much about trying to get points,” Cooper said. “I think we have been working a lot playing as a unit of five on the ice versus two defense and three forwards.”
Going into 2024, the Bobcats will be back to full strength. Graduate student and alternate captain Alexa Hoskin returned to the lineup for the first time since Sept. 30 against Maine. Hoskin recorded her first point of the season off a goal from Veronica Bac.
In addition to Hoskin’s return, junior Maya Labad returned to the lineup for the first time since Nov. 18 against Colgate. Labad scored and had an assist in her first game back.
WHOK: The Bobcats tack on another three goals to take victory over LIU 7-0 in their final game of the 2023 calendar year.
The Bobcats will now look forward to two home games vs. highly competitive Minnesota Duluth.#NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/2nHPyFfPHS
— Quinnipiac Bobcats Sports Network (@QBSN) December 30, 2023
“It was nice to have some of our injured players back,” Turner said. “It was a great game to start off the second half [of the season].”
With the first half of the season complete, Quinnipiac boasts a record of 18-3. By this mark the past two seasons, the team has posted a similar record of 17-3 and 15-1-2 respectively.
Each of the last two seasons, the Bobcats have finished up their seasons in the regional final in Columbus, Ohio, losing to the Ohio State Buckeyes in both years.
While those games were played in early March, playing postseason hockey has been the least of the team’s worries.
The first weekend of games the past few seasons for the Bobcats have been against the nationally ranked Wisconsin Badgers and this season is no different. The Bobcats will start 2024 facing off against No. 6 Minnesota Duluth who has an overall record of 11-6-1.
As the year resets and with New Year’s resolutions around the corner, the Bobcats are simply looking to improve on some of the fundamentals of their program.
“We need to be sure that we play with confidence,” Turner said. “We have to bring what we bring. Because when we’re at our best, we’re a pretty good hockey team.”
