Quinte Residents Zoe Uens and Peyton Cormier play significant roles in the Victory
By Total Sports Quinte
The Quinnipiac University Bobcats defeated Yale University 5-1 to win the ECAC Championship for the first time since 2016. After a semifinal overtime victory versus Princeton, the Quinnipiac women seemed to find another gear and pull away from the Yale Bulldogs who had entered the Lake Placid Conference tournament as regular season Co Champions with Princeton. Quinnipiac had finished the season one point behind in a very close race, but it was Quinnipiac who took the championship from its Ivy School rivals.
Two Quinte residents played key roles in the victory. Assistant Captain and Senior Zoe Uens tallied four points over the weekend, including a key PP goal in the championship game. Uens has had a tremendous final season and is on the radar for this springs PWHL draft. Uens has so far scored 10 goals (2nd most among defenseman in the conference) and carries a +30 rating (2nd for defenseman in the conference) while blocking 53 shots which is 9th in the league overall.Â
Check out the Goal in the video below
Freshman Peyton Cormier was a key piece in a very deep Quinnipiac team. Although not recording any points this past weekend, Cormier contributed heavily on the penalty kill and played critical minutes utilizing her speed and tenacity. Cormier tallied 4 goals and 5 assists in her inaugural NCAA Season working her way up the lineup and playing in all 39 games. She is expected to be a big contributor in the upcoming NCAA Frozen Four Tournament and for years to come in the program.
Of note, Anna Phillips of Madoc was the backup goalie for Yale over the weekend. Philips started in 14 games this year with a 7-6 record carrying a 1.95 GAA and a Save % of .918, which was the top ten in the conference.
The NCAA has four divisions, with the ECAC being one of the most competitive in the entire country with 6 teams ranked in the top 15 in NCAA rankings. The Frozen Four Tournament begins March 12th with regionals hosting 11 teams. The four winners of each of the regionals will advance to the Frozen Four at Penn State March 20-21.
Quinnipiac qualified automatically for the tournament with its ECAC victory and has drawn Franklin Pierce for its first game .Should they win, they will need to beat the #2 Wisconsin Badgers to punch their ticket to the Frozen Four.
Yale will play Minnesota-Duluth with the winner playing #1 Ohio State to determine who will go through to the final four at that regional.
Other teams qualifying are Minnesota, Northeastern, Penn St, UConn and Princeton.
Grace Outwater of Picton played her minor and junior hockey in Ottawa. She has been a major contributor to the #3 ranked Penn St.Nittany Lions. The forward is second on the team in scoring with 24 g and 16 assists for 40 points in 34 games. Penn St won the AHA conference with a tight 3-2 victory over unranked Mercyhurst. Penn st will play the winner of the UConn vs Princeton game to see who will move forward to the Frozen Four.
Other Notable Quinte residents playing NCAA Division 1 Womens hockey currently are Taryn Rathwell at RPI and Taylor Gilmour at Providence.