Quinni improved a lot! This is the most complete defensive team that BC has played this season. They defend in layers, cooperate well, and provide strong backup to their goalie. BC responded by redoubling their efforts and the game was a treat to watch, high intensity from beginning to end. Unlike Wednesday where Quinni looked tired at the end of the third, here if anything it was BC who slowed down slightly towards the end of the game, and it made for a very exciting ending.
Quinni held BC to four (!) shots in the first period, BC then held Quinni to five in the second, of which three came very early; so basically the story of the second and the first half of the third was consistent BC possession mixed with occasional QU breakaways.
In the third Quinni got more pressure. The BC Heights story (
http://bcheights.com/sports/2015/bc-quinnipiac-eagles-shine-at-kelley-rink/) quotes Coach Crowley as saying “They won that third period and that’s something that will resonate with our kids,” though in fact BC still led in SOG and I would say in competitive edge, just, even though QU got the only goal.
I have never seen a team as good at getting the puck off BC in the zone. They're big kids with long reaches and can cover short distances very fast to disrupt an attack, even if that doesn't always turn into possession.
Some of my concerns about QU from the BU game still remain. They cooperate remarkably well in the defensive zone but seem to have little offensive coordination. They're prone to taking penalties because of their defensive style. And I think Laden is much more a good goalie behind a great defense than the great goalie her stats would suggest. It's very rare for her to make a clean stop without allowing at least some bounce. Fortunately she always has three team-mates to clear the puck out for her.
On the BC side, some notes:
* The fourth line didn't see the ice at all, a sign of respect to QU I think. It's noteworthy in particular because the fourth line saw ice time even in the first period against Harvard in the fall, and because they've been so strong recently (for example with Meghan Grieves's two goals against Northeastern and GWG v Vermont). You have to wonder if that contributed to the tiredness of the team in the third period, although in fairness there was never a time when QU laid off the pressure enough for it to seem safe to take a chance on the fourth line.
* Lauren Wedell and Erin Kickham didn't dress.
* Big support from other BC sports: baseball and women's lacrosse were there, and the women's team were honored with an autograph session before and on-ice recognition at the intermission of the men's game this evening.
* Skarupa's goal showed great awareness; the Carpenter/Skarupa/Kent line was changing out for Field/Anastos/Capizzano, and on her way off the ice Skarupa realized that Anastos had possession and clear ice, so she turned around, raced for the slot, got the pass and stuck the puck in the net. Smart, tough, hungry play.
* Once again, Toni Ann Miano wins the I-wouldn't-do-that prize for blocking some huge, huge shots. She's really tough.
* I was down on Laden above. I am enormously up on Burt. She has great composure, great awareness, does the minimum necessary, kills the puck stone dead whenever possible. The QU goal came with a lot of BC players on the right of the goal and space on the left, and one QU player was able to wrap the puck around before BC noticed; it was a breakdown in team defense more than a failure on Burt's part. She has a great defense corps in front of her, but she really is a great goalie.
Burt now leads NCAA division 1 in both GAA (.93) and save % (an astonishing .951). Last year's best save % was .945, Leveille and GAA was 1.10, Howe; the year before, Raty with .958 save / .91 GAA, with Rigsby on .943 the second best among goalies with more than 50% of games played. She's an elite talent. And a freshman! And 17!
