Bobcats Top Bulldogs in OT

Despite a yeoman’s effort by Corbin Kaczperski, Yale dropped
a 3-2 decision to No. 16 Quinnipiac at Ingalls Rink on Friday.

NEW HAVEN—Corbin Kaczperski stopped 29 of 32 shots and kept the Yale Men’s Hockey team in the game, but Quinnipiac ultimately emerged with a 3-2 victory in ECAC play last night at Ingalls Rink.

The Bulldogs (9-12-1, 6-8-1) got on the board first just 55 seconds into the opening puck drop. Luke Stevens forced a turnover in the Quinnipiac end and Kevin O’Neil got the puck in the high slot. O’Neil skated into the lower left circle and flicked a pass toward the top of the crease that bounced off the skate of Hayden Rowan and slid into the back of the net for his first career tally.

After the Bobcats (17-9-1, 10-4-1) answered with goals in the second and third period to take a 2-1 lead, the home team kept peppering shots at goalie Keith Petruzzelli (25 saves). One finally made it through.

Jack St. Ivany fired a shot from the left point off the boards and the puck bounced out to the right circle. Evan Smith got to the puck before the goalie could slide over to cover the open side. The Bulldog captain one-timed a backhander into the top of the net with 2:47 left in regulation to send the packed house into a frenzy.

Both teams had chances in the last two minutes to take the game, which ultimately ended on a scramble of bodies on the edge of the crease early in overtime.

“I thought we played well all three periods, and it was a good hockey game. We got the game into overtime and then they rolled one in off our goalie’s back,” said Yale head coach Keith Allain.

The Bulldogs are back in action at home Saturday night at 7 to host Princeton.

—Staff Reports