No. 1 QU Women's Ice Hockey Overcomes Two-Goal Deficit to Beat No. 8 Rensselaer in Overtime, 3-2

Friday, February 26

Hamden, Conn.

2 PM

Quinnipiac University

27-2-5 (16-2-4ECAC)

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

10-16-7 (8-9-5ECAC)

OT 1

Rensselaer

Quinnipiac

No. 1 QU Women's Ice Hockey Overcomes Two-Goal Deficit to Beat No. 8 Rensselaer in Overtime, 3-2

2/26/2016 6:01:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey

Box Score

By: QU Sports Information

HAMDEN, Connecticut – Emma Woods (Burford, Ontario) scored the game-winning goal 2:04 into overtime Friday afternoon for the No. 1 seed Quinnipiac women's ice hockey team as the Bobcats knocked off the No. 8 seed Rensselaer Engineers, 3-2, in game one of their best-of-three ECAC Hockey Quarterfinal matchup at High Point Solutions Arena.

Nicole Connery (Newmarket, Ontario) picked up an assist on the play to become the fourth player in program history to record her 100^th career point for the Bobcats. Connery is the second player this season to score their 100^th point after Nicole Kosta (Mississauga, Ontario) achieved the feat in October. In addition to Kosta, Connery joins Kelly Babstock and Shiann Darkangelo in the 100-point club.

The Bobcats (27-2-5, 16-2-4 ECAC Hockey) set a new program record for wins in a single season with 27 as the Bobcats extend their unbeaten streak to five games and winning streak to three games. Also with the win, head coach Cassandra Turner tied the NCAA record for wins by a women's ice hockey head coach in their first season with 27 wins, joining Minnesota's Brad Frost, former New Hampshire coach Brian McCloskey and Division III Manhattanville's Nicole Hall. Rensselaer (10-16-7, 8-9-5 ECAC Hockey) dropped their second straight game with the overtime loss.

The Bobcats overcame a two-goal deficit for the first time since Nov. 30, 2013 when they Bobcats trailed the Yale Bulldogs 2-0 at High Point Solutions Arena before winning the game, 3-2, in regulation.

Connery's goal for the Bobcats was her 13^th of the season, tying her single-season career-high set last season for the Bobcats. She also picked up her 22^nd assist of the season on Woods' game-winner for her 100^th career point and 35^th of the season. Connery's two points extend her multiple-point streak to three games as she has tallied eight points over that span.

Woods scored two goals in the win for the Bobcats for her 10^th and 11^th tallies of the season. With two goals, Woods has now scored 35 times in her collegiate career and the multi-goal effort was the third of her career. Woods has 34 points this season, good for third on the team.

Sophomore Taylar Cianfarano (Oswego, New York) became just the third Bobcat in program history to record 50 points in a single season with two assists on Friday afternoon. Cianfarano's 50 points this season are the third most in single season history, trailing only Kelly Babstock's 59-point freshman season in 2010-11 and her 55-point junior season in 2012-13.

Defensemen Kristen Tamberg (North Toronto, Ontario) and Emma Greco (Burlington, Ontario) each picked up assists in the victory for the Bobcats. Greco's assist was her fifth of the season as the junior has tallied a point in two straight games. Tamberg's assist was her 17^th of the season, extending her point streak to three games.

Rensselaer took a 1-0 lead with exactly two minutes to play in the second period on Jaimie Grigsby's second goal of the season. Kosta sent a pass across the blue line on the offensive end but Grigsby stepped up and picked off the pass. She touched the puck forward and skated with speed one-on-one with Sydney Rossman (Excelsior, Minnesota) before burying the shot.

The Engineers scored again with about 31 seconds left in the second period on Josefine Hansen's second goal of the season. Shayna Tomlinson touched the puck to Lauren Wash on the right boards. Wash fed a pass to the point for Hansen where she knuckled a shot through traffic past Rossman for the goal.

Woods got a goal back for the Bobcats just 3:52 into the first period with for her 10^th of the season and cut Rensselaer's lead to 2-1. Greco wrapped a puck around the left boards to Cianfarano who skated around behind the net and circled into the slot. Cianfarano dropped a pass back to Woods on top of the crease. Woods' initial shot was blocked by Hannah Behounek but Woods quickly collected the rebound and deposited it past Rensselaer goaltender Lovisa Selander.

The Bobcats tied up the game with 12:21 left in the third period on Connery's 13^th goal of the season to make it 2-2. Tamberg hit Connery with a pass before accidentally blocking Connery's shot. The rebound kicked right back to Connery who skated in low at the left face-off circle and roofed the puck past Selander.

The Bobcats completed their playoff comeback just 2:04 into overtime on Woods' second goal of the game. Connery had the puck on the left boards and pass it to Woods in the right corner. Woods then skated up the circle before leaving the puck for Cianfarano who used her speed to beat the defender and fire a shot on the right side of the crease. Initially saved by Selander, the rebound popped up to Woods on the back door who tucked home the game-winner.

Quinnipiac and Rensselaer will return to the ice on Saturday at 2 P.M. for game two of their best-of-three ECAC Hockey Quarterfinals at High Point Solutions Arena.