On Sunday, Quinnipiac (10-11-0, 4-9-0 ECACHL) and Yale (5-9-1, 4-6-0 ECACHL) hooked up for the first-ever match between the two New Haven County schools at Yale’s Ingalls Rink, and the Bulldogs took the inaugural game with a heated 4-3 decision in front of 3,118 spectators.
Down 3-2, the Bobcats managed to tie the game at 3 on a David Marshall rebound goal. Jamie Bates registered his third point of the evening of the assist, and Dan Henningson also was credited for a helper.
The Bobcats’ Dan Rossi made a big hit following the goal at center ice, but was called for interference and Yale capitalized on the opportunity. Bill LeClerc scored the game winner at 13:06 of the third when he went short-side on the ice past Quinnipiac netminder Bud Fisher.
Quinnipiac made a last-ditch effort by pulling Fisher, but Alec Richards held strong in net for Yale, making two key saves in the final minute to finish with 37 for the victory. Fisher finished with 18 in the loss. The teams went a combined 5-for-9 on the power play.
Quinnipiac was the “home” team and donned the white jerseys for the game between the Interstate 91 schools, but was on the visitor’s bench and in the visitor’s locker room for the contest.
The Bobcats and Bulldogs, fresh off wins on Friday night, were looking to extend their streaks to two games apiece and to move up in the ECAC standings.
Quinnipiac had the first scoring opportunity just 10 seconds in when Ben Nelson won the faceoff at center ice and went in on a breakaway, but was stopped by Richards.
The Bobcats did strike first when Nelson capitalized on a power play. Matt Sorteberg was at the top of the left circle and passed to Bates, who sent the puck to Nelson on the backdoor for the one-timer goal at 6:04 of the first.
Yale responded with two power-play goals to end the period. Jeff Hristovski tallied the first goal when he received the pass in the slot.
With just under one minute remaining, the Bulldogs scored their second goal by J-F Boucher. Again, it was a one-timer that beat Fisher. Hristovski and Matt Craig added assists.
Quinnipiac outshot the Bulldogs 11-6 in the period, but Yale was 2-for-2 on the power play.
In the second period both teams came out more focused and it was Yale who struck first. David Meckler tallied his second of the season, the first even-strength goal of the game. Michael Karwoski fed the puck from the left circle to Meckler, who gave the Bulldogs a two-goal advantage.
Quinnipiac cut the deficit to one on Jamie Bates’ power-play goal. Brian Leitch cycled the puck to Sorteberg, who wound up and blasted the puck at the net; Bates deflected the puck in over Richards’ blocker to make it 3-2 at 8:05 of the second.
The game turned physical entering the third period, and was most dramatic when star Bobcat defenseman Reid Cashman was checked into the corner boards and fell to the ice just over eight minutes in. Cashman, who lay on the ice momentarily, came up with a puddle of blood on the ice and dripping down his face.
Quinnipiac returns to action with “home” games against Cornell and Colgate, both at Ingalls Rink, while Yale will host New Hampshire on Wednesday.
