Bobcats Lose to Colgate in League Opener

Boxscore

HAMDEN, Conn. - The Quinnipiac University men's ice hockey team lost to Colgate, 1-0, in an ECAC Hockey match-up at the TD Banknorth Sports Center in Hamden, Conn. The Bobcats drop to 2-3-0 overall and 0-1-0 in league play. Colgate opens their ECAC Hockey schedule at 1-0-0 while they improve to 4-1-0 overall.

Both teams played to a scoreless tie through a penalty-filled first period that saw seven infractions called between the two teams. Colgate entered the game ranked first on the penalty kill nationally, and continued that dominance throughout the game. The Raiders killed three penalties in the first 20 minutes, including a 5-on-3 Bobcat power play, as Quinnipiac finished 0-7 with the advantage for regulation.

"We can't take that many penalties," Head coach Rand Pecknold said. "Take nothing away from Colgate, but when you take that many penalties it makes it very difficult to win a hockey game. [Nick] Pisellini was great tonight, I'd have to watch the tape to see exactly what happened, but he gave up a goal on a 5-on-3, so that's not totally his fault."

Quinnipiac freshman goalie Nick Pisellini (Itasca, Ill.), starting his first ECAC Hockey game, stopped the first 16 shots he saw in net and would finish with 25 saves for the game. Pisellini goes to 2-1-0 through his first three collegiate starts.

"I felt pretty good out there," Pisellini said. "Our defense has been great every game. I feel like I have to make one save and not worry about the rebound - that's how good our guys have been."

Quinnipiac had a legitimate scoring opportunity just under the 14-minute mark of the second period. Jean-Marc Beaudoin (St. Paul, Alb.) took a pass from Greg Holt (Mt. Sinai, N.Y.) above the right face-off circle. His shot beat Colgate's Charles Long, stick-side, but hit the top right corner between the pipe and crossbar. The puck dropped behind Long but was cleared as Brandon Wong (Victoria, B.C.) put a rush on net.

Francois Brisebois (Montreal, Que.) scored a power play goal at the 8:43 mark of the third period to give Colgate a 1-0 lead. The Raiders took the lead on a 5-on-3 advantage following a series of shots on net, all stopped by Pisellini. Jason Williams (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) collected the rebound and dumped it to David McIntyre (Pefferlaw, Ont.) on the left of the goal. McIntyre found the hole in the Bobcats' defense where Brisebois was waiting. His shot found the upper right corner to give the Raiders a 1-0 lead with just over 11 minutes to play in the game. Brisebois' goal was his third of the season while McIntyre picked up his fourth assist.

"On the goal they scored, I was trying to take away the shooting lane - I was kind of sprawled out in front there - and he just worked it around to that side. This was a tough one."

The Bobcats return to action on Saturday, Nov. 8 when they host Cornell University in an ECAC Hockey game at the TD Banknorth Sports Center in Hamden, Conn. Cornell defeated Princeton, 1-0, earlier in the afternoon. The opening puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.