December 4, 2009 Early Bobcats Get the Worm
The Quinnipiac University women's ice hockey team will travel this weekend to take on Clarkson and St. Lawrence in their lone weekend series of December. The Bobcats will play two early afternoon games on the weekend, taking on the Golden Knights on Friday at 3:30 p.m., and the Saints on Saturday at 2 p.m. Quinnipiac most recently defeated Sacred Heart, 11-1, in the consolation game of the Nutmeg Classic Tournament on Nov. 28.

Scouting the Golden Knights
Clarkson has posted an impressive record in the first half of its 2009-10 season. The Golden Knights hold a 12-4-1 overall record with a 6-1 record in Hockey East action, most recently losing both games in a weekend series against Minnesota on Nov. 27 and 28. Clarkson is led by senior forward Dominique Thibault, who has collected 10 goals and nine assists this season. Thibault currently leads the ECAC in points (19), and goals (10), and ranks second in assists (9). Junior goaltender Lauren Dahm also tops the ECAC in the four main goaltending categories: save percentage (.941), goals-against average (1.35), saves (366) and winning percentage (.735). Dahm has played in all 17 games for the Golden Knights this season.

Scouting the Saints
St. Lawrence currently posts a 6-5-4 overall record with a 3-3-1 position in conference action, placing them sixth in ECAC Hockey. The Saints most recently split a weekend series with Ohio State on Nov. 20 and 21. Sophomore forward Vanessa Emond leads the team offensively with ten goals and eight assists on the year, tying with Clarkson's Thibault to lead the ECAC in goals. Senior goaltender Brittony Chartier has seen the most action between the pipes this season for St. Lawrence, posting a .912 save percentage.

Record Performance
The Bobcats set two program records in their 11-1 victory against Sacred Heart in the Nutmeg Classic consolation game last Saturday. It was the first time in program history that the team scored 11 goals, and it marked the second time in program history that they won a game by a ten goal margin. It was also the first time that three different players put up four points in one game. Senior forward Janine Duffy (Toronto, Ontario) and freshmen forwards Kristen Eklund (Barrington, R.I.) and Heather Hughes (Stouffville, Ontario) each tallied four points apiece in the victory. The last time multiple players notched four points each in a game was on Jan. 31, 2003, when Candace Boyles and Gillian Gallagher each posted four points in a 8-0 win against Sacred Heart at the Northford Ice Pavilion.

She's Not Messing Around
Eklund picked up her first collegiate point against Sacred Heart when she opened up the game's scoring at the 16:13 marker of the first period...and the freshman forward didn't stop there. She went on to tally two more goals and an assist in the Bobcats' 11-1 victory against the Pioneers. Eklund set her season high in goals, assists and points, and matched the program's record for points in a game with four.

I'm Begging You For Mercy
Duffy set an individual program record in the Bobcats' victory against the Pioneers last Saturday. After assisting on four of the 11 goals scored in that game, Duffy surpassed the previous record set for assists in a game. The previous record was set by Caitlin Peters in the programs' 2001-02 inaugural season when she tallied three assists in a 7-0 blanking of Union. Several players have matched that tally over the program's nine year history, but Duffy now holds the record for assists in a game with four.

Heating Up
Hughes continues to lead Quinnipiac's offense as she also posted four points against Sacred Heart in the Nutmeg Classic. The freshman scored two goals and dished out two assists in the win. This is the second time in her career that she has put up four points in a game. She previously matched the program record for points in a game on Oct. 31 when she scored three goals and added an assist against Rensselaer at the TD Bank Sports Center. Hughes currently leads the team in points (15), goals (9) and ties to rank first in assists (6). She also ties to rank second in ECAC Hockey in goals.

Monthly Marvel
Freshman goaltender Victoria Vigilanti (Woodbridge, Ontario) was named the Quinnipiac Female Athlete of the Month for November on Wednesday. Vigilanti posted impressive stats in November, notching her season high in saves to kick-off the month when she turned aside 34 shots by Brown. She went on to record the program's first-ever win against Dartmouth on Nov. 14. In that game, Vigilanti stopped 32 shots by the Big Green, including 18 in the third period to keep the Bobcats on top for the 2-1 victory. She was also named the ECAC Hockey Goaltender of the Week after her performances against Colgate and No.7-ranked Cornell. In the Nutmeg Classic, Vigilanti posted 23 saves in her two starts between the pipes, and earned the win against Sacred Heart on Nov. 28.

Career Day Times Six!
In addition to Duffy and Eklund, four different Bobcats set career-highs in goals, assists, or points. Sophomore defender Bethany Dymarczyk (Hamden, Conn.) set her career-high in assists (2), senior forward Evelina Husar (Eskilstuna, Sweden) set her career-high in assists (2), and points (3), freshman forward Breehan Polci (London, Ontario) set her career-high in assists (2), and points (3), and sophomore forward Kate Wheeler (Oakville, Ontario) set her career-high in goals (2).

One Timers
In addition to Eklund, three different Bobcats recorded their first goal of the 2009-10 season. Senior defender Breana Burton (Surrey, British Columbia) along with Husar and Wheeler each scored for Quinnipiac in its eleven-goal game. Wheeler and Burton each picked up two points in that game, while Husar recorded three points on the day.