January 24, 2010

HAMDEN, Conn. - The Quinnipiac University men's ice hockey team snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 3-3 tie against Niagara at the TD Bank Sports Center in Hamden, Conn. Quinnipiac goes to 13-10-2 overall while Niagara moves to 7-13-3. Despite losing a two-goal lead in the third period, Quinnipiac remained undefeated in its last 44 games (40-0-4) when leading after the second frame. Senior Brandon Wong (Victoria, B.C.) scored twice for the Bobcats while sophomore Scott Zurevinski (Saskatoon, Sask.) had three assists.

QU Goals and Highlights from the NSN TV Network

Wong put the Bobcats on the board at the 3:43 mark with his 13^th goal of the season coming on the power play. With a man-advantage, the Bobcats worked the puck around the Niagara zone before Zurevinski skated into the left face-off circle and dished the puck to Jean-Marc Beaudoin (St. Paul, Alb.). Beaudoin then sent the puck across the crease to Wong, who one-timed a shot past Niagara goalie Chris Noonan to give Quinnipiac a 1-0 lead. Quinnipiac entered Saturday's game with a 12-2-0 record when scoring first.

The assist was Zurevinski's 10^th of the season. Zurevinski (11 goals, 12 assists), Wong (14-14) and Eric Lampe (10-16) give Quinnipiac one of two line-ups in the country, along with Michigan State, to feature three players in double figures in goals and assists.

The Bobcats' one-goal lead lasted until the seven-minute mark of the second period when Tyler Gotto notched his fifth goal of the season on a pass from Ryan Oldis, who converted on his 10^th assist of the year. The Bobcats responded with a pair of goals inside the last five minutes of the second frame.

Beaudoin scored his seventh goal of the season when he batted the puck out of mid-air past Noonan to give Quinnipiac a 2-1 lead. Jeremy Langlois (Tempe, Ariz.) started the play on a breakaway. His shot attempt was turned away by Noonan before it was picked up by Zurevinski. Zurevinski had his shot blocked by a Niagara defenseman, sending the puck straight up in the air. Beaudoin, who was trailing the play, swung at the puck and knocked it past the out-stretched leg of Noonan.

Wong scored his second goal of the game, and 14^th of the season, with 1:05 remaining in the period. Zurevinski dug the puck out of the corner and skated to the slot. He turned away from the goal and found Wong waiting for the pass. Wong's shot from the goal line beat Noonan to give Quinnipiac a two-goal lead, 3-1, heading into the third period.

A turnover in front of the Quinnipiac goal helped Niagara cut the Bobcats' lead in half. David Ross picked up a broken clear attempt and wristed a shot past Quinnipiac goalie Dan Clarke (Belleville, Ont.) to pull within one, 3-2. Wes Consorti then scored the game-tying goal just 1:50 into the third to tie the game. Consorti was assisted on the play by Rob Martini and Dan Baco.

Quinnipiac once-again held the shot advantage in the tie with the Purple Eagles. A night after outshooting Niagara 50-26, the Bobcats put 58 shots on goal to NU's 33. The 58 shots were the second most this season for Quinnipiac after a 63-shot performance against Robert Morris on Oct. 31. In goal, Noonan totaled 55 saves while Clarke turned away 30 in the game.

Quinnipiac returns to action on Friday, Jan. 29 when it travels to Hanover, N.H. to take on ECAC Hockey foe Dartmouth College at 7 p.m.