LAKE PLACID, NY — The Quinnipiac Bobcats came up short once again in Lake Placid, NY, losing to the Saint Lawrence Saints 3-0 in the ECAC semifinals.
The loss comes one year after falling to Colgate in the ECAC semifinal in double overtime by a score of 2-1.
“Honestly I am embarrassed,” said Bobcats head coach Rand Pecknold. “My staff and myself personally, we take a lot of pride in being one of the most well-coached teams in the nation, that’s why we have been able to have the success that we have had over the past 10-12 years and I’ll give a lot of credit to Saint Lawrence, but I am honestly embarrassed right now.”
The game started very physically, with both teams getting into scuffles with one another and having to be separated multiple times by officials. Both teams would draw power-play opportunities in the first period but neither side would convert.
“Got to give Saint Lawrence a lot of credit. They out battled us tonight, won more matchups, (they) were more detailed than us and played with a lot of intensity.” said graduate captain Jayden Lee.
After a scoreless first period, the Saints would kick things off in the second when Tomas Mazura would take a breakaway goal from the high slot to make it 1-0 Saints seven minutes into the second period.
The second period would continue to be all things Saint Lawrence as they would draw two penalties in the period, converting on one of them with some beautiful puck movement, eventually falling into the stick of Max Dorrington who would cash in and make it 2-0 Saints with only nine minutes to go in the second.
After a lackluster second period, the Bobcats would come out firing in the third period, putting up eight shots on goal, however it was goaltender Ben Kraws who would put on a show today for the Saints, with multiple goal-stealing saves in the third period to keep his shutout alive.
“As good as we played tonight we still gave up some big time opportunities where he had to be responsible for his crease and make a play, and I think earlier in the season he gave us a chance to win every game, and now he goes out there and wins games for us. There’s and difference and we’re seeing that now,” said Saint Lawrence head coach Brent Brekke.
The Bobcats would continue to try and make a push to comeback, but they couldn’t seem to get anything past Kraws, who would finish the game with 22 saves in the shutout.
Late into the third period the Bobcats would pull their goalie in a final attempt at a comeback, but it would end up haunting them as Ty Naaykens would put in the third and final goal on an empty net that would send the crowd at Herb Brooks arena into a frenzy.
“I think the home support was the difference for us tonight,” said senior forward Max Dorrington. “We have been unbelievable at home this year, we actually beat them 3-1 in Appleton (Arena). Today absolutely felt like a home crowd tonight. They were unbelievable.”
Saint Lawrence will return to action Saturday night at 5 p.m. when they will take on the winner of the Cornell game with an NCAA tournament bid on the line.
