HAMDEN, CT. – The ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ women’s hockey team opened up its best record in team history when it beat Quinnipiac 5-1 on Friday evening. The Raiders are now 3-0 besting the 1997-98 squad that started 2-0. Carly McNaughton (Lethbridge, Alb.) led the way for ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ with two goals and an assist.
The Bobcats took the early lead with a goal by Caitlin Peters at 4:40 of the first period. That would be the last time the Bobcats would sniff the net.
¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ tied it up eight minutes later when Ashley Johnston (Duxbury, Mass.) tallied her first collegiate goal from defender Shelby Nelson (Osterville, Mass.).
McNaughton’s first goal was the game-winner and came with just a minute and a half left in the second period. Cheryl Setchell (Sydney, N.S.) and Maura Kehoe (Chelsea, Que.) combined on the assist for the Raiders.
The Raiders broke out for three goals in the third period with the first two coming just 23 seconds apart. At 14:30, Kehoe scored her second goal of the season off a pass from McNaughton. Becky Irvine’s (Lakeview, N.S.) goal at 14:53 gave the Raiders a 4-1 advantage. Scoring leader Allison Paiano (Orleans, Ont.) was credited with the assist. McNaughton set the final with an empty net goal with 45 seconds to play.
Rebecca Lahar (Vienna, Va.) performed brilliantly in net for ¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ making 30 stops and lowering her goals against average this season to 1.33.
The Raiders outshot the Bobcats 33-31 and killed all three Quinnipiac power plays, while coming up empty on all four of their power play efforts.
¸Ô±¾ÊÓƵ is now 3-0 on the season, a new team best. The same two teams are back in action Saturday at 5 p.m.