2008 Woodie Awards
Niagara halts Bobcats unbeaten run
Brian Stevenson
Issue date: 1/30/08 Section: Sports
Not even the nation's longest unbeaten streak could end the dominance the Niagara University hockey team has over the Quinnipiac Bobcats.
The Purple Eagles swept a weekend series from the Bobcats for the second year in a row, this time at the TD Banknorth SportsCenter.
Niagara followed a convincing 5-1 win on Friday night with another five goal effort Saturday night, defeating the No. 12 ranked Bobcats, who were unbeaten in their last 10 games, 5-3 to run their overall record against the Bobcats to an astounding 9-1.
"Niagara played well. They do well against the ECAC I think because they feel like they have something to prove," Quinnipiac head coach Rand Pecknold said. "We don't match up well and they were fired up."
The Purple Eagles came out strong Friday night, but Bobcat netminder Bud Fisher was up to the task early on, stopping two breakaways in the first few minutes.
Nine minutes into the period, Dan Sullivan was able to solve Fisher to give Niagara a 1-0 lead.
The Bobcats tied the game on a power play goal by Bryan Leitch, his 99th career point. Linemates Ben Nelson and Jamie Bates assisted on the tying goal.
With a minute and a half to go in the first period, a botched clearance attempt by the Bobcat defense led to the first goal of the season by Ryan Olidis and a 2-1 lead for Niagara at the break.
The lapse was just one example of a horrible defensive weekend for the Bobcats according to Pecknold.
"This (Friday) was the most uncoachable outing of the year. I was frustrated and embarrassed," he said. "We looked like six-year olds playing soccer. We just kept following the puck."
Niagara extended their lead to 3-1 with 8:35 to go in the second perios on Matt Caruana's 12th goal of the year.
Ryan Annesley scored with just under three minutes to go in the second period to give the Purple Eagles a three goal lead entering the third.
Freshman Pat McGann replaced Fisher in net late in third and was beaten for the fifth and final goal of the game with 1:55 to go.
The Purple Eagles swept a weekend series from the Bobcats for the second year in a row, this time at the TD Banknorth SportsCenter.
Niagara followed a convincing 5-1 win on Friday night with another five goal effort Saturday night, defeating the No. 12 ranked Bobcats, who were unbeaten in their last 10 games, 5-3 to run their overall record against the Bobcats to an astounding 9-1.
"Niagara played well. They do well against the ECAC I think because they feel like they have something to prove," Quinnipiac head coach Rand Pecknold said. "We don't match up well and they were fired up."
The Purple Eagles came out strong Friday night, but Bobcat netminder Bud Fisher was up to the task early on, stopping two breakaways in the first few minutes.
Nine minutes into the period, Dan Sullivan was able to solve Fisher to give Niagara a 1-0 lead.
The Bobcats tied the game on a power play goal by Bryan Leitch, his 99th career point. Linemates Ben Nelson and Jamie Bates assisted on the tying goal.
With a minute and a half to go in the first period, a botched clearance attempt by the Bobcat defense led to the first goal of the season by Ryan Olidis and a 2-1 lead for Niagara at the break.
The lapse was just one example of a horrible defensive weekend for the Bobcats according to Pecknold.
"This (Friday) was the most uncoachable outing of the year. I was frustrated and embarrassed," he said. "We looked like six-year olds playing soccer. We just kept following the puck."
Niagara extended their lead to 3-1 with 8:35 to go in the second perios on Matt Caruana's 12th goal of the year.
Ryan Annesley scored with just under three minutes to go in the second period to give the Purple Eagles a three goal lead entering the third.
Freshman Pat McGann replaced Fisher in net late in third and was beaten for the fifth and final goal of the game with 1:55 to go.
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