Taylar Cianfarano Nets Game-Winning Goal to Propel QU Women's Ice Hockey Over Maine, 3-1

Friday, October 9

Orono, ME

7:00 PM

Quinnipiac University

2-0-1

University of Maine

1-2-1

Quinnipiac

MAINE

Taylar Cianfarano Nets Game-Winning Goal to Propel QU Women's Ice Hockey Over Maine, 3-1

10/9/2015 9:04:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey

Box Score

By: QU Sports Information

ORONO, Maine – Sophomore Taylar Cianfarano (Oswego, New York) scored the game-winning goal with 5:01 remaining in the third period to give the nationally-ranked No. 8/7 Quinnipiac women's ice hockey team a 3-1 win over the Maine Black Bears Friday night at Alfond Arena.

Kristen Tamberg (North Toronto, Ontario) started the game-winning goal off right with a great rush into the offensive zone, chasing down the puck in the right corner. After working the puck around, Melissa Samoskevich (Sandy Hook, Connecticut) fired the puck on goal where it was saved by Maine goaltender Meghann Treacy but the rebound kicked out to Cianfarano where she fired home a one-timer into the open left side of the net for the game-winner.

Cianfarano's goal was her second of the season and fourth point in the first three games to add to her team-leading point total. In her freshman season last year, Cianfarano was second among all Division I women's ice hockey players with eight game-winning goals and first in ECAC Hockey. Cianfarano has now recorded a point in three straight games to start the season and scored a goal in two straight games.

Cydney Roesler (Stittsville, Ontario) scored the first goal of the game midway through the second period, her first goal of the season after scoring seven the previous season. Roesler's goal is her second point of the season.

With time winding down in the third period, Nicole Kosta (Mississauga, Ontario) added an empty-net goal for her 99^th career point as she looks to become just the third player in program history to record 100 career points.

Nicole Connery (Newmarket, Ontario) and Samoskevich tallied assists for the Bobcats in the victory. Samoskevich's assist was her third straight game to start her career with a point while Connery recorded her first point of the season.

In goal for the Bobcats, Sydney Rossman (Excelsior, Minnesota) was solid in picking up her second win of the season and sixth of her career. Rossman tallied 16 saves on 17 shots as she extended her career unbeaten streak to eight games at 6-0-2.

The Bobcats put up their highest shot total of the season against the Black Bears (1-2-0), outshooting them 39-15. Quinnipiac was most dominant in the first period, holding Maine to just one shot on goal while registering 14 of their own.

Roesler gave the Bobcats a 1-0 lead with her first goal of the season coming with 10:30 remaining in the 2^nd period. Connery stole the puck in the neutral zone just on the defensive side of the red line. She fed a pass through two defenders to a streaking Roesler who skated in one on one with Maine goaltender Meghann Treacy where she buried the puck in the back of the net.

The Black Bears tied the game 2:58 later with Catherine Tufts' first career goal to make it 1-1. After a turnover in the neutral zone, Tufts skated the puck up the left wing before centering a pass to Murray at the top of the slot. Murray's shot snuck through Rossman's pads where Tufts swiped the puck into the back of the net for the equalizer.
Roesler made key, game-saving as time wound down in the third period as Emily Brigham streaked into the offensive zone on a breakaway but Roesler caught up to her from behind and jammed the puck off her stick to preserve the 1-1 tie, at the time.

Following Cianfarano's game-winner, Kosta added an empty-net goal after collecting a Maine turnover in the neutral zone with 39 seconds remaining in the game to seal the victory for the Bobcats.

The Quinnipiac women's ice hockey team returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 4 P.M. in the final game of the weekend series with the Maine Black Bears at Alfond Arena.