November 6, 2010

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - Quinnipiac women's ice hockey freshman forward Kelly Babstock's (Mississauga, Ontario) assist and goal in the first period proved to be the difference in the game, as Quinnipiac defeated ECAC Hockey opponent Union College in a close 3-2 battle at Messa Rink on Friday evening. Quinnipiac improves its overall record to 7-3-1 and its ECAC record to 2-2, while Union falls to 1-8 overall and 0-3 in ECAC action.

Quinnipiac's first of three first period goals came just 30 seconds into the contest, as freshman forward Lindsay Burman (Stanchfield, Minn.) netted her first career goal. On the play she was assisted by Babstock and freshman forward Amanda Colin (Burnsville, Minn.). Both assists were monumental, as Babstock tied the Quinnipiac all-time freshman record with 14 assists thus far on the season, while Colin notched her first-career helper.

The Bobcats scored just minutes later at the 3:47 mark of the first to bring the score to 2-0, when senior forward Kelley Davies(Chesapeake, Va.) potted her second goal of the season. After Davies' goal, starting netminder Alana Marcinko was pulled and replaced by Kate Gallagher, who remained in goal for the rest of the game.

Union responded with a goal of its own at the 8:25 mark of the first period, as junior forward Kelly Alyea scored on an unassisted, short-handed tally.

Babstock scored Quinnipiac's third goal of the period, the most it has scored in any period this season, at the 19:23 mark of the first to extend the lead to 3-1. The Mississauga native's team-leading seventh goal of the season came on a pass from junior forward Kate Wheeler (Oakville, Ontario), who earned her third assist of the year.

Union made things interesting when it scored to make the score 3-2 at the 13:26 mark. Alyea netted her second goal of the contest as junior forwards Emilie Arseneau and Lauren Hoffman each picked up an assist on the score.

The Bobcats dominated the Dutchwomen in total shots taken, with a 42-20 advantage. Quinnipiac goaltender Victoria Vigilanti (Woodbridge, Ontario) made 18 saves on the evening. In her short 3:47 minute outing, Marcinko made five saves while her replacement Gallagher turned away 34 throughout the rest of the contest.

Quinnipiac returns to action tomorrow night, Saturday, Nov. 6 at 4 p.m. when it heads to Troy, N.Y. to face Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.