HAMDEN, Conn. -- Quinnipiac claimed its fourth Nutmeg Classic title in program history on Saturday afternoon, as the Bobcats overcame a two-goal deficit to comeback and defeat Yale 3-2, from the High Point Solutions Arena. Lindsey West netted the game-winner and nationally-ranked No. 8 Quinnipiac improved to 12-2-5 on the season while the Bulldogs finished as the Nutmeg Classic runner-up for the seventh time in eight championship game apperances.
Playing in their fifth Nutmeg Classic championship game, the Bobcats and Bulldogs clashed for the 27th time in their series history and second time this month as last played to a 0-0 tie from Ingalls Rink on Nov. 9. An incredible team effort by the Bobcats would have all been for naught if not for crucial saves from freshman goalie Sydney Rossman down the stretch. A shot from Yale's Jamie Haddad from the slot hit Rossman's leg pads but was left out in front. The freshman goalie snapped back and was able to smuther the wrist shot from Janelle Ferrara with less than three seconds remaining to seal the Bobcat victory.
While the crowd was all on the edge of their seat for the final minute of play, the entire Bobcat cheering faithful was off their seat and on their feet for senior Olivia Brackett's first career goal. The senior forward waited 87 games but struck with a resounding goal at 5:35 in the second period that tied the score at 2-2. Babstock recorded her second of two assists on the day as she flipped a crossing pass over to Brackett on an odd-man rush who blasted home her first career tally five-hole on Leonoff.
The eventual game-winner was put home by West at 3:22 in the third period as she took a pass from sophomore Nicole Brown and ripped a slap shot low on the blocker side of the Yale goalie Jaimie Leonoff. With several defenders in front screening, the puck banged off the far post and into the opposite corner to light the lamp on West's second career goal.
No. 1 Minnesota 6, Princeton 0
MINNEAPOLIS -- Freshman Dani Cameranesi led the way with three points as No. 1 Minnesota earned a 6-0 shutout win against Princeton in front of 2,158 fans at Ridder Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Five Gophers put up multiple points in the win, and 12 Minnesota players had at least one point. Cameranesi's multi-point effort included Minnesota's first goal and last goal along with one assist. Senior Kelly Terry and sophomore Hannah Brandt each had one goal and one assist, and juniors Rachael Bona and Meghan Lorence each added a pair of assists.
Sophomore goaltender Amanda Leveille made 11 saves in her fifth shutout of the season as the Gophers out-shot the Tigers 48-11. Princeton's Kimberly Newll made 35 saves and allowed all six goals before Ashley Holt made seven saves over the final 9:35 of the game.
No. 2 Wisconsin 1, Minnesota-Duluth 0
DULUTH, Minn. -- Junior Karley Sylvester scored with just under 18 minutes remaining in the third period to give No. 2 Wisconsin a 1-0 triumph against WCHA rival Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday night at AMSOIL Arena.
Sylvester fired a laser into the top corner of the net after senior Madison Packer found Sylvester on a breakaway at the 2:12 mark in the third period. The goal was Sylvester's sixth of the season, and gave UW a lead it would never relinquish.
No. 7 Boston College 4, No. 3 Cornell 1
ITHACA, N.Y. -- Taylor Wasylk scored the game-winning goal and added an assist while goaltender Corinne Boyles made 39 saves to lead No. 7 Boston College to a 4-1 victory against No. 3 Cornell at Lynah Rink on Saturday afternoon.
Meagan Mangene gave BC a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 12:08 of the first period, marking the first goal for the Eagles in the two game series. Mangene punched in the rebound off Wasylk’s initial shot.
The Eagles took a 2-0 lead just before the end of the first period with a goal from Wasylk at 18:09. Haley Skarupa tallied her second assist of the game on the goal. Wasylk beat Cornell goaltender Paula Voorheis, who was put in net in relief of starting netminder Lauren Slebodnick. BC took the 2-0 lead into the first intermission despite being outshot 19-10 in the first frame.
Danielle Doherty gave the Eagles a 3-0 lead at 12:52 of the second period with her second goal of the season, burying an Emily Field feed into the back of the net past the pads of Voorheis. Dohery’s goal marked the only tally of middle stanza, during which BC held a 13-9 advantage in shots.
Cornell got on the board just 44 seconds into the third period with an even-strength strike by Jessica Campbell. The goal proved to be the only blemish in the game for Boyles, who kept the Big Red scoreless on all nine power play opportunities.
Emily Field concluded the scoring with a short-handed goal, finishing on a pass from Andie Anastos, to settle the score at 4-1.
