By D.F. Pendrys

HAMDEN, CT – It would take a goal in the waning minutes of period 3 to get the Quinnipiac Bobcats women’s hockey team a victory over Union Friday night. The otherwise close game on the scoreboard was finally broken through when Olivia Mobley got a clear shot right in the slot in front and fired the puck into the back of the net at 18:36 to put the Bobcats up 2-1. Mobley was assisted by Lexie Adzija and Kendall Cooper. QU was then able to hold Union from a serious response until the final horn sounded.

It was a game that QU dominated in terms of shots putting up 38 to Union’s 19. The Bobcats had some bad bounces, some missed connections and it looked throughout the night like they were on the verge several times of numerous other points as they buzzed around the Union net. Nonetheless the Dutchwomen held the Bobcats to just the one goal through most of the game.

It was Union who tallied the first goal as Ashley Adams came at the goal from the side and launched it over the netminder’s right shoulder into the net with a well placed strike at 2:20 in the second.

The lead would not last the period as QU’s Taylor House put the puck in during a scrum in front of the Union net at 17:47. Assists went to Renee Saltness and Kate Reilly on that tally.

Overall penalties did not factor into the game it appeared as neither side was able to take advantage when up a skater. Each side’s penalty kill was able to prevent too many dangerous chances.

Despite the loss, this is a much improved Union program from years passed being able to hang in with Quinnipiac to this degree and with Clarkson the week before shows this team is plenty capable and should not be underestimated.

Josie McLeod led Union with 3 shots. Carmen Merlo, Meredith Killian, Emily King, and Celeste Beaudoin had 2. For Quinnipiac, Mobley had 8, House 6, Renee Saltness 5, and Lexie Adzija, Sadie Peart, and Nina Steigauf all had 4.

Given the shot totals, Logan Angers made 18 saves for Quinnipiac and Olivia Rinzel made 36 saves for Union. Coach Josh Sciba’s Union Squad is now 2-9-1 and 0-5-0 in ECAC place. Cassandra Turner’s QU team is 9-0-2 and 3-0-0 in the ECAC.