No. 1 QU Women's Ice Hockey Faces No. 2 Clarkson in ECAC Hockey Championship Game on Sunday at 2 PM

Sunday, March 6

Hamden, Conn.

2:00 PM

Quinnipiac University

Clarkson University

Tickets

No. 1 QU Women's Ice Hockey Faces No. 2 Clarkson in ECAC Hockey Championship Game on Sunday at 2 PM

3/6/2016 8:58:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey

By: QU Sports Information

No. 1 Quinnipiac University Bobcats (29-2-5, 16-2-4 ECAC Hockey) vs.
No. 2 Clarkson University Golden Knights (29-3-5, 14-3-5 ECAC Hockey)
Dates: March 6, 2016
Time: 2:00 P.M.
Location: High Point Solutions Arena - Hamden, Conn.
All-Time Series vs. Clarkson: 9-18-4
Last Meeting: T, 2-2 OT (Feb. 13, 2016 in Hamden, Conn.)

Follow the Bobcats:
Live Video vs. Clarkson (U.S.): ESPN3
Live Video vs. Clarkson (Canada): ECACHockey.com
Live Stats vs. Clarkson: QuinnipiacBobcats.com
Purchase Tickets: QuinnipiacBobcats.com
Twitter: @QU_WIH

Game Notes
Quinnipiac | Clarkson

Survive and Advance
The No. 1 seeded Quinnipiac women's ice hockey team is in the ECAC Hockey Championship Game for the first time in program history where they will face the No. 2 seed Clarkson Golden knights on ESPN3 in the United States as well as TSN Go in Canada.

All-Time Against Clarkson
The Bobcats have enjoyed recent success against the Golden Knights, winning four of the last five games against Clarkson, and allowing just three goals over that span. Quinnipiac's shutout at Clarkson to open up the season series just the third shutout at Clarkson in program history, with Sydney Rossman recording her second career shutout in Potsdam, N.Y. Taylar Cianfarano posted her second career hat trick during the game. Quinnipiac and Clarkson tied on Nov. 13, 2016 in the second meeting of the season between the two teams with Emma Woods leading the way with one goal and one assist. Melissa Samoskevich scored the Bobcats' second goal before the Golden Knights tied the game. Overall, the Bobcats are 2-8-2 at home against Clarkson after tying 2-2 last season in Hamden.

Scouting the Golden Knights
Clarkson has been unbelievable in the last several weeks of the season as the Golden Knights extended their unbeaten streak to 18 games. Clarkson is 15-0-3 in their 18 games since the break. On Saturday, Clarkson knocked off Colgate, 5-2, including a 32-17 shot advantage. The Golden Knights' offense has been one of the best in the country, scoring 137 goals in 36 games, led by Cayley Mercer with 24 goals and 25 assists for 49 points. Mercer is second to Cianfarano in the conference in goals second in the league league lead in points. Olivia Howe is second on the team with 37 points thanks to 16 goals and 21 assists while Genevieve Bannon has 11 goals and 26 assists for 37 points. Loren Gabel is second on the team with 16 goals. Defenseman Erin Ambrose leads all Clarkson blue-liners with seven goals and 21 assists for 28 points. Shea Tiley has been a force to be reckoned with between the pipes, going 26-3-5 with a 1.37 GAA and .929 save percentage, recording 590 saves in 34 games. Clarkson's special teams have been solid, going 22 for 113 on the power play (19.5 percent) while the penalty kill is just as strong, killing off 107 of 122 penalties (87.7 percent).

Multimedia
Sunday's championship game between Quinnipiac and Clarkson will be streamed live in the U.S. on ESPN3, the Bobcats' second game this season on ESPN3. For fans wishing to watch in Canada, the game will be streamed on TSN GO. Free live stats of all three games this weekend will also be available by going to QuinnipiacBobcats.com and clicking on the live stats link in the schedule. Fans can also follow the action on Twitter all season long by following the team's Twitter account, @QU_WIH.

Bobcats in the Polls
For the 21st consecutive week this season, the Quinnipiac women's ice hockey team was ranked in the top 10 of the USCHO.com Division I Women's Poll and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll, ranking fourth for a program record 12th consecutive week. The Bobcats have been ranked in the top 10 of the USCHO.com Poll for 66 consecutive weeks. Once again, Quinnipiac is one of two schools in the country to have both its men's and women's ice hockey teams ranked in the top five of both polls, joined by Boston College who's men's team is ranked No. 3 and the women's team is No. 1.

Bobcats in the PairWise
Quinnipiac has continued to retain its solid position at the No. 4 spot in the PairWise rankings for the past two months, nestled between Minnesota at No. 3 and Clarkson at No. 5. With an .871 winning percentage, the Bobcats have the fourth highest winning percentage while its RPI of .6282 is higher than Clarkson's, giving the Bobcats some breathing room. In strong playoff position from ECAC Hockey is Quinnipiac (No. 4), Clarkson (No. 5), Princeton (No. 7) and Colgate (No. 8).

Playoff History
In program history, Quinnipiac is 13-10 overall in the playoffs. They are 11-5 in the quarterfinals, 1-4 in the semifinals and 0-1 in the NCAA Tournament. Last night, Quinnipiac picked up its first ever win in the semifinals with a 2-1 defeat of St. Lawrence. Randi Marcon scored the game-winning goal with 5:10 left in regulation to send the Bobcats to their first ever league championship game.

Playoffs Against Clarkson
Quinnipiac and Clarkson have met in the playoffs on two other occasions with the playoff series between the two teams tied at 2-2. Back in 2012, the Bobcats traveled to Potsdam as the No. 6 seed and upset Clarkson to reach the semifinals for the second time in program history. After winning game one of the series, 4-1, the Bobcats fell, 2-1, in the second game before bouncing back to win the series with a 2-0 shutout. Two years later, the Bobcats and Golden Knights in the semifinals of the 2014 ECAC Hockey Tournament where Clarkson pulled away with the 6-0 win.

Regular Season Champs
For the first time in program history, the Quinnipiac women's ice hockey team has been crowned the regular season champions of ECAC Hockey. The Bobcats controlled the No. 1 spot in the standings for much of the 2015-16 season, recording their most conference wins (16) and fewest conference losses (2) in program history. The Bobcats 36 points were the most since the 2013-14 season when Clarkson won the regular season title with 36 points.

Not in my Zone
Quinnipiac is among the best in the country in numerous statistics, but are currently allowing the fewest shots on goal in the country with 637 allowed in 36 games. The Bobcats are also allowing the fewest shots on goal allowed per game at just 17.69, one of just four schools in the country to allow fewer than 20 shots per game (Wisconsin, Minnesota, Quinnipiac, Clarkson).

Other National Stats
Nationally, the Bobcats rank in the top five of numerous categories. From a defensive standpoint, the Bobcats are second in the country in goals against average at 0.94, only trailing Wisconsin who has a 0.70 GAA. With just 34 goals allowed, the Bobcats have allowed the second fewest behind Wisconsin's 26. Special teams have also been a strength this season, with the Bobcats power play ranked third in the country at 26.5 percent and the penalty kill ranked second at 92.1 percent. Quinnipiac's 26 power-play goals are tied for sixth in the country.

Improved Power Play
The power play this season has become a big strength for the Bobcats as they are third in the country and first in ECAC Hockey at 26.5 percent. Since Christmas break, the power play has been even better, clicking at a rate of 34.1 percent which is second behind Minnesota. The Bobcats have scored a power-play goal in 12 of their last 15 games since Jan. 9, including a stretch from Jan. 9 to Feb. 12 where they scored a power-play goal in eight straight games.

Breakin' Recs and Cashin' Checks
This year's Quinnipiac women's ice hockey team is contention, or already has, broken several program records. The Bobcats 115 goals are the most they have scored in a single season, breaking the 2010-11 team's record of 105 goals. With 186 assists, the Bobcats have shattered the old mark of 157 from 2012-13. The Bobcats have also won the most home games (17) and tied for the most road wins (11) in a single season. Quinnipiac's 29 wins this season ties last year's team record. Even more impressive, the Bobcats are currently on pace to break the program records for highest power play percentage, highest penalty kill percentage, most goals scored per game, fewest goals allowed and lowest goals against average.

Home Cookin'
The Bobcats have some of the best home numbers in ECAC Hockey, led by their .905 winning percentage and are the only team in the conference to not have a loss with a 17-0-4 record. Quinnipiac is one of four schools in the country that have yet to record a loss at home. Over the past three seasons, the Bobcats have compiled a 44-4-10 record for an .845 winning percentage.

Cassie's Club
Head coach Cassandra Turner continues to make her mark in history as the winningest first year NCAA Women's Ice Hockey coach with her 29^th win of the season. Turner broke the old record of 27 wins, which was held by three different coaches. At the Division I level, Brian McCloskey brought New Hampshire to a 27-7-2 record in 2003 while Brad Frost went 27-7-4 in his first season at the helm of Minnesota in 2008. Manhattanville's Nicole Hall also won 27 games at the Division III level in 2003.

ECAC Hockey Goaltender of the Month
Quinnipiac goaltender Sydney Rossman won her third ECAC Hockey Goaltender of the Month Award, and second consecutive, after another dazzling performance in the month of February. Rossman led the league with six wins, three shutouts, a 1.04 GAA and was third with a .938 save percentage. Within the month, Rossman recorded her fourth two-shutout weekend as well as breaking the program record for wins in a single season, which now stands at 28.

Not All Heroes Wear Capes
Randi Marcon picked the perfect time to score her fourth goal of the season, putting home a juicy rebound with 5:10 left in regulation on Saturday afternoon to send the Bobcats to their first ECAC Hockey Championship Game in program history. Marcon's goal was her first career game-winner.

This Greco's on Fire
Emma Greco has stepped up her game late in the season as she scored her second career goal, and second goal in the last four games, with a second period tally against St. Lawrence on Saturday in the ECAC Hockey Semifinals. Greco has now recorded points in three of the last four games on her way to two goals, five assists and seven points.

Weekend Comeback
The Quinnipiac women's hockey team had a weekend to remember as they overcame two early deficits against No. 8 Rensselaer to sweep the series. In game one, the Bobcats trailed by as many as two goals before winning the game, 3-2, for their first comeback against a two-goal deficit since Nov. 30, 2013against the Yale Bulldogs. In game two of the series, the Bobcats trailed by one goal 25 seconds into the game before Nicole Brown's game-winning goal in double overtime completed another comeback win.

Century Mark
Nicole Connery became the fourth player in program history to join the 100-point club with a two-point game in the first quarterfinal game against Rensselaer. Connery record a beautifully placed goal for point number 99 before assisting Emma Woods' game-winning goal in overtime. Connery joins Nicole Kosta as the two active 100-point scorers, while Kelly Babstock reached it during the 2012-13 season and Shiann Darkangelo in the 2014-15 season. Connery's one goal this weekend gives her 13, tying her single-season career-high goal total set last season. She also has 23 assists to give her 36 points, the second most on the team.

Disco C-Inferno
Taylar Cianfarano picked up one goal and two assists for three points this weekend, becoming an even bigger part of program history. Cianfarano's goal was her 28^th of the season, tied for the second most in program history while her two assists gives her 51 points which are good for the third most in a single season in program history. Cianfarano joins Kelly Babstock as the only other player to reach the same marks. Cianfarano also has a +47 plus/minus rating, by far the best in program history.

Woody Wagon
Leading the Bobcats in goals this weekend, Emma Woods potted two goals for the Bobcats for her 10^th and 11^th goals of the season. Woods scored the game-winning goal 2:04 into overtime against the No. 8 Rensselaer Engineers to give the Bobcats a 1-0 lead in the series. The game-winner was Woods' third of the season. This season, Woods is fourth on the team with 11 goals and tied for the team lead with 23 assists. Woods' career-high 34 points are third on the team. In her career, Woods has already netted 35 goals and 48 assists for 83 points.

Seventeen Again
Nicole Brown propelled the Bobcats into the semifinals this weekend with her game-winning goal with just 6:36 remaining in the Bobcats game against the Engineers. Brown's goal was her sixth of the season, tying her career-high. Her double overtime goal was the first goal in a multiple overtime game for the Bobcats since Amanda Colin sent the Bobcats into the ECAC Hockey semifinals during the 2012-13 season with her game-winner in triple overtime against the St. Lawrence Saints.

The Tambergular
Kristen Tamberg continues to inch closer and closer to becoming the fifth defenseman in program to reach the 50-point mark. Tamberg picked up an assist in the quarterfinals against Rensselaer to give her 47 points in her career. This season, Tamberg has four goals and 17 assists for 21 points, already one of the best seasons by a defenseman in Quinnipiac women's ice hockey history. Not only has Tamberg been getting it done offensively, but she has also blocked 50 shots, two shy of tying her career high from last season.

Greco Points
After scoring just one point in the first 24 games of the season, Emma Greco has turned up the heat in the second half of the season. The Bobcats defenseman has recorded points in back-to-back games for the second time in her career after an assist in game one against Rensselaer, just one out from scoring her first career goal. Greco has one goal and three assists in her last eight games, and five assists overall this season.

The Ross Report
Sydney Rossman continues to be one of the statistical leaders not only in ECAC Hockey but in the entire country as well in her first season as the starting goaltender. Rossman is first in the league with 28 wins, a .871 winning percentage, 15 shutouts, a 0.92 GAA and .946 save percentage. Those stack up well nationally, as she is second in shutouts and GAA, third in save percentage, third in wins and fourth in winning percentage.

"Samo" Wrestling
Despite being held of the scoresheet against Rensselaer, Melissa Samoskevich has put together one of the finest freshman seasons in program history, as her 16 goals and 32 points among freshman since the program's inception in the 2001-02 season. Samoskevich is currently second on the team with her 16 goals and fourth with 32 points. Among league freshman, Samoskevich ranks second in both categories as she has been an offensive leader for the Bobcats.

7th Heaven
Another Bobcat who is having yet another great season is Nicole Kosta, who put together her fourth 25-plus point season of her career. With 10 goals and 15 assists, Kosta's has been one of the more dominant forces on the ice. Kosta had an impressive seven-point weekend to wrap up the regular season against Union and Rensselaer with back-to-back three-point games.