HAMDEN, Conn. — Quinnipiac took control in overtime and Soren Jonzzon scored just under two minutes into the extra session as the Bobcats defeated Dartmouth 2-1 at High Point Solution Arena on Friday night.
The Bobcats outshot Dartmouth 4-0 and after a failed clearing attempt by the Big Green, Bo Pieper slapped a shot from the blue line towards the goal. Jonzzon was positioned in the low slot area and deflected the shot into the net for his fourth goal of the season.
“We were able to get in on the rush and create a little chaos down low,” said Jonzzon on the play. “Bo Pieper had just changed and he was able to get the puck to the net and I just crashed the net.”
Landon Smith added the other goal for Quinnipiac and Michael Garteig made 19 saves to improve to 9-4-0 on the season.
“Every game is three games,” said Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold. “First period, second period, third period – we’re all over the map with our intensity and our compete. First period was poor, second period was good, and the third and overtime was excellent [and] we were dominant.”
Tyler Sikura scored for Dartmouth and James Kruger stopped 32 shots in a losing effort as he falls to 4-4-1.
“The kids worked hard I thought from our goaltender right out,” said Dartmouth coach Bob Gaudet. “[Quinnipiac is] a good team and it was a good hockey game we just couldn’t seem to find a way but I thought our guys battled and competed.”
The teams skated to a scoreless first period with the Big Green outshooting the Bobcats 11-7 in the period.
Quinnipiac held a 7-4 shot advantage in the middle period, but Dartmouth took advantage and a 1-0 lead into the second intermission.
Sikura’s goal came nine and a half minutes into the period. Eric Robinson skated into the Quinnipiac zone and lifted the puck in the air towards the goal. As Garteig attempted to play the puck into the corner, Sikura knocked the puck out of the air and into the net for his third goal of the season.
Quinnipiac upped the offensive pressure and controlled play in the third period, outshooting Dartmouth 16-5.
“I think the biggest thing for us was to keep putting pucks at the net and not necessarily trying to make the perfect shot,” said Jonzzon. “It was just a matter of throwing pucks in [Kruger’s] feet and creating rebounds.”
Kruger made some of his best saves of the game in the period. His most notable save came in the final minute of regulation. Sam Anas found Smith on the opposite side of the zone hitting him with a cross-ice pass and Smith quickly one-timed a shot towards goal. Kruger moved from his right to left to make the save, smothering the shot in his chest.
“He’s been playing great for us,” said Gaudet of Kruger. “He’s big and he just seems to be really calm in the net. I’m happy for him. He’s played every game and he’s done and outstanding job. Tonight, I thought he was really big. He made some huge saves, especially that one on the back door there in the third was just a great save.”
Smith tied the game for Quinnipiac four and a half minutes into the final period. Smith picked up the puck in the neutral zone and deked past a Dartmouth defender at the blue line before breaking into the zone. Smith then snapped a shot past the glove side of Kruger for his seventh goal of the season.
