By Gayle Simone
Senior Goalie Chanda Gunn stopped 20 shots as NU blanked Quinnipiac 4-0 Saturday to end their four game road trip.
Sophomore Theresa Ella started the scoring for NU with a power-play goal 8:11 into the first period. Rachel Bertram added a late first period tally to extend the Huskies’ lead to 2-0 at 18:54. Marie Desrosiers assisted on both goals to extend her point streak to three games with two goals and four assists.
At 11:55 in the second, Quinnipiac’s Serena Hillman was called for interference, giving NU a man advantage for two minutes. They capitalized on the power-play, Jessica Coppney beat Janelle Wolitski for her second goal of the season assisted by Amy Goodney and Mia Mucci. Sophomore Chrissy Sands ended the scoring 7:59 in the third with a goal assisted by Kathryn Sands.
NU out-shot Quinnipiac 33-20 and capitalized on two out of four power-plays. The Huskies were perfect on the penalty kill, successfully stopping Quinnipiac on three attempts.
Coach Joy Woog said teamwork won the game.
“We had nine different people contribute to the scoring in the game,” she said. “That’s how we are going to win, solid smart team play.”
The win came after a 1-1 tie against Providence in their Hockey East season opener last Thursday night.
Rush Zimmerman gave fourth-ranked Providence the early lead beating Gunn on a rebound for a power-play goal at 12:14 in the first.
“Chanda [Gunn] played brilliantly for us,” Woog said. “She put us in a position to win. We had our chances; we had two break-aways that Jana Bugden stopped.”
NU rallied to tie the game in the second.
Freshman Desrosiers tallied her second goal of the season past Providence net-minder Jana Bugden at 10:08. Cyndy Kenyon had the helper to extend her point streak to three games.
The teams each earned a point, skating to the 1-1 tie in overtime.
Gunn stopped 46 shots while NU only peppered Bugden with 14.
“It was an exciting game,” Woog said. “It’s a small arena; it seemed like a pinball game; skating up and down. It was an exciting game to be a part of.”
The Huskies ended their season opening road trip with a 2-1-1 record. NU plays their home opener Saturday at 2 p.m. at Matthews Arena against Niagara. The two teams meet again Sunday at 2 p.m., also at the arena.
