Women's Ice Hockey Prepares For Home Opening Weekend Against Northeastern And Sacred Heart

Saturday, October 9, 2010 - 3 p.m.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats (2-0-0) vs.
Northeastern University Huskies (1-0-1)

Sunday, October 10, 2010 - 5 p.m.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats (2-0-0) vs.
Sacred Heart University Pioneers (0-0-2)
TD Bank Sports Center- Hamden, Conn.

TD Bank Home Opener
The Quinnipiac University women's ice hockey team will play its first home contests of the season on Saturday, Oct. 9 at 3 p.m. against Northeastern University and Sunday, Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. against Sacred Heart University at the TD Bank Sports Center in Hamden, Conn.

Follow The Bobcats
Live Stats for both weekend games will be available. To access live stats, please click on the appropriate links on women's ice hockey schedule at www.quinnipiacbobcats.com.

About Northeastern University
After finishing the 2009-10 season with an overall record of 17-9-7 (9-6-6 in Hockey East), the Huskies come into Quinnipiac with a 1-0-1 record to begin the year. Northeastern was selected to finish fifth in its conference, after finishing fourth a season ago. In its last game on October 2, Northeastern edged the Union College Dutchwomen, 3-2, in an overtime victory. Sophomore forward Brittany Esposito was the hero on the night, as she scored the game winner at 3:34 into the overtime period. Freshman forward Katie MacSorley has proven to be a valuable addition to the squad, as she was named the Northeast Student-Athlete of the Week last week. She is tied with Siena Falino for the team lead in goals with two. In the net, the Huskies are led by junior goaltender Florence Shelling. In two games, Shelling has totaled 57 saves for a .905 save percentage.

All-Time Against The Huskies
Saturday's non-conference game will be the 15th time the two teams have faced each other. Although Quinnipiac's overall record against Northeastern is 4-8-2, the Bobcats have played well in recent years, winning four of the last six contests. The last meeting between the two squads was on October 17, 2009 in which Quinnipiac earned a 1-0 victory. On that night, the Bobcats handed the Huskies their first loss of the season, while freshman goaltender Victoria Vigilanti (Woodbridge, Ontario) recorded her first shutout of the year.

About Sacred Heart University
The Pioneers come into Quinnipiac with an 0-2-0 record after enduring a difficult two-game, weekend series against the University of Maine. Sacred Heart was held scoreless in both contests, losing 7-0 and 11-0 in consecutive nights. Sacred Heart finished last season with a record of 7-17-2. Sacred Heart returns with its top two scorers from a year ago, seniors Lauren Fontaine (22 goals, 14 assists) and Brittany Hartman (14 goals, 16 assists). In goal for the Pioneers is freshman goaltender Alexius Shutt, who has made 77 saves for a .856 save percentage.

All-Time Against The Pioneers
Quinnipiac holds a perfect record of 8-0 against the non-conference opponent Pioneers of Sacred Heart. Last season, the Bobcats were victorious in two contests, earning a 4-1 victory on October 3 and an 11-1 victory on November 28. The 11-1 victory tied the largest ever goal differential victory for the Bobcats, with the previous game coming against Sacred Heart on November 9, 2003, in a 10-0 win.

Last Time Out
Quinnipiac began the 2010-11 campaign with two solid victories against non-conference opponent Niagara University on Friday, Oct. 1 and Saturday, Oct. 2 at Dwyer Arena. In Friday's matchup, Quinnipiac skated to a 3-0 shutout victory as junior forward Kate Wheeler (Oakville, Ontario) led the way, scoring two second period goals for the Bobcats. On Saturday evening, the freshmen showed a glimpse of what they can offer, as forwards Kelly Babstock (Mississauga, Ontario) and Erica Uden Johansson (Sundsvall, Sweden) each recorded a goal and two assists in a 3-1 victory.

Wheelin' And Dealin'
Wheeler started off the season hot, scoring two goals in a 3-0 victory over Niagara on Oct. 1 and picking up one assist the following night in a 3-1 team win. For her efforts, Wheeler was awarded with the ECAC Hockey/MLX Skates Player of The Week honors on October 5. Last season, Wheeler finished fifth on the team in points with 14 (four goals, 10 assists).

Time To Invest In Bab-Stock
Babstock had an impressive start to her Quinnipiac career, picking up two goals and three assists en route to her first-ever ECAC Hockey/MLX Skates Rookie of the Week selection. In a 3-0 victory over Niagara on Oct. 1, Babstock scored the first goal and had an assist on the second goal. On Oct. 2, she registered two helpers on the first and second goals, and netted the third and final goal for the Bobcats in their 3-1 victory.

No Sophomore Slump For Vigilanti
Vigilanti continued her dominance in net, stopping 44 of 45 shots in the two games played on Oct. 1 and 2. Vigilanti posted her first shutout of the season on Oct. 1, turning away 20 shots in a 3-0 victory. For her performance, Vigilanti received her fifth career ECAC Hockey/MLX Skates Goaltender of the Week honors.

Swedish Sensation
Uden Johansson displayed her offensive prowess this past week, as she registered one goal and two assists on Oct. 2. Although only a freshman, Uden Johansson joins the Bobcats as an experienced skater, as she was a member of the 2010 Swedish Olympic Hockey Team that played in Vancouver, Canada.

Back On The Road
The Bobcats return to action in a non-conference weekend series matchup on Friday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 16 at 2 p.m. against the University of Maine at Harold Alfond Sports Arena in Orono, Me.