Northeastern women’s ice hockey (2-2-0 HE) started its first weekend back in Matthews Arena for the 2024-25 season with a 4-2 win Oct. 4 against No. 9 Quinnipiac University (3-1-0). But the Huskies could not complete the weekend sweep against the Bobcats, losing 3-0 Oct. 5 at home.
The weekend started off strong with the Huskies’ 4-2 win Oct. 4, but the following night’s 0-3 result was not what Northeastern hoped for. Northeastern might have fired off more shots, but Quinnipiac’s new transfer, graduate student goaltender Kaley Doyle, made sure the net remained untouched, saving a total of 28 shots, her best performance for the Bobcats so far. Despite Northeastern’s three power plays, the team couldn’t string anything together, missing passes and letting three goals slip through.
In an ESPN interview before the puck dropped Saturday, Northeastern head coach Dave Flint indicated he was pleased with Friday’s outcome but acknowledged, “There’s still some areas we need to clean up. We need to pay attention to details a little more.”
The game started off strong for Northeastern, which fired off five shots on goa in the first 5 minutes. The Huskies were aggressive when Quinnipiac came into their attack zone, but the Bobcats began matching their shots and gaining control.
After Quinnipiac was called for slashing by graduate student forward Kathryn Stockdale, Northeastern was granted their first power play opportunity of the game. The Huskies struggled to maintain possession during the advantage while the Bobcats continued to break away with the puck, not a single shot landing in the penalty time.
With three minutes left in the period, Northeastern fired off three back-to-back shots on goal, but all were successfully blocked by Doyle. Northeastern scooped up the rebound each time but Doyle continued to bounce back, refusing to let anything get through.
In the last minute, Quinnipiac was called for tripping by sophomore forward Kahlen Lamarche, giving the Huskies another power play that carried into the second period.
The first period finished with 32 shots made, but neither team had found the net. Northeastern senior goaltender Paige Taborski successfully blocked and grabbed 18 shots, both goalies looking strong.
The second period began with Northeastern’s puck domination, continuing their power play. Once again, the Huskies could not convert.
Three shots on goal by Quinnipiac culminated in one finally making it through two minutes into the period. Catching a rebound coming from behind the net by graduate student forward Jenna Donohue, senior forward Maya Labad attacked the puck from the side of the net to notch the first goal of the game, putting the Bobcats up 1-0.
Quinnipac dominated the next few minutes, getting nine shots off compared to Northeastern’s three before the Bobcats came back for a second goal.
In the 11th minute Stockdale scored with an assist from Donohue. Donohue passed the puck in from the faceoff zone, ending in a scramble by the net with Stockdale finishing the job. The Bobcats now held a two point lead, with Northeastern still unable to reach the back of the net.
In the 18th minute, a Quinnipiac power play began due to slashing by junior forward Lily Shannon, putting the stadium on edge. Quinnipac sent off two empty shots before Northeastern was given a power play opportunity due to hooking by graduate student defender Kendall Cooper, with a 14-second overlap between the two.
As this was the third Northeastern power play of the night, hopes were high that this would be the moment the Huskies finally got on the board, but three shots fired by senior forward Skylar Irving, senior defender Tory Mariano and graduate student forward Jaden Bogden could not find the back of the net. With 17 seconds left in the period, Taborski snatched a puck out of the air in a close shot by Quinnipiac.
As the third period began, Northeastern became more aggressive on offense, hoping to narrow the 2-0 deficit. Freshman forward Morgan Jackson turned a faceoff won by Northeastern into an immediate shot, which was saved by Doyle. The period continued with Northeastern leading slightly in shots on goal, none of which were converted.
Freshman forward Éloïse Caron led an assist to Bogden in the third quarter, creating a stir. Doyle defended the net by jumping back, while Donohue backchecked her, both women falling into the net but saving the shot in the process. After more scrambles and missed shots, with three minutes left in the game, Northeastern pulled Taborski and put in a sixth attacker in a last attempt to fish for goals. A minute later, a power play began for Quinnipiac due to roughing by freshman defender Tristan Thompson, after which Northeastern immediately put Taborski back in the net.
Time was ticking down and only 30 seconds later, Taborski was back on the bench. Seconds after Northeastern pulled Taborski for the second time, leaving an empty net, the Bobcats found possession and senior defender Maddy Samoskevich launched a straight shot into the net, leaving the score at 3-0 with Quinnipiac’s win preordained, given only a minute more of play time remained.
The game ended with a disappointing finish from Northeastern, Quinnipiac dominating the puck in the last minute of play time. After an exciting weekend with Quinnipiac, ending with Saturday’s loss, the team is looking to build off lessons from the expert defensive team and lean on old and young stars to have a strong season.
Prior to the game, Flint described easing Caron into the fold of the team.
“Having a veteran player like Irving on there, she’s the catalyst, and Bogden’s on the right side and she’s got a lot of experience and Éloïse Coran is a special young player who’s going to have a great career,” the coach said.
Caron put up three shots on goal on Saturday, the only freshman on the starting line up.
The Huskies will face off against rival Boston University (1-2-0) Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. in Matthews Arena.
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