A Shutout and a New Goal Record for the Bobcats

Fresh off a shootout loss to Harvard, the Quinnipiac Bobcats traveled up to Dartmouth to take on the Big Green, who were coming off their own loss to Princeton the night before. This was Big Green’s last home game of the campaign as the team will be heading out on the road for their final games. One of these teams would salvage this weekend with the dub, and it turned out to be the Bobcats who notched the 3-0 shutout at Thompson Arena.

This was Senior Day for Big Green and I’d be remiss if I didn’t give them some shine. The group of 6 have been contributors for the program since their first year and that continues this season. Cally Dixon, Izee Powell, Shae Messner (100GP on Senior Day), Maura Fiorenza, Vanessa Stamper and Meredith Jensen: take a bow ladies. The impact you’ve made on the program for years to come as the Dartmouth women’s ice hockey team is definitively trending in the right direction.

In net for Quinnipiac was Felicia Frank with her 1.36GAA and ridiculous.945%SV. The Swedish product was making her 32nd (not a typo) start of the season and shows no sign of slowing down. A the other end of the sheet was Jiahui Zhan making her 11th start of the campaign. The Beijing native came into this one with a 2.87GAA and an excellent .910%SV. In one of those oddball number coincidences, both net minders wear rocking #30.

It was a good pace to open up the game as neither team had a decided advantage in zone time The 4:1 advantage in SOG by Quinnipiac didn’t feel as lopsided as it looked on the scoresheet as the sides had fairly equal scoring chances.

As the period progressed, the ice started to tilt towards Zhan’s net as Quinnipiac showed off their team speed and got some grade A chances with their effort, but Zhan stood tall in her paint. Just when it looked like the squads would retire knotted at gooses, Quinnipiac put one home.

Taylor Brueske corralled a loose puck in the Dartmouth zone and put the puck on net from the LW circle. Kahlen Lamarche was circling like a shark and tossed a backhand on Zahn. The puck was loose and Lamarche poked it wide as she got blown up by Hailey Maguire (solid play in front of the net IMO), and the puck sneaked out to Zahn’s left into the blue paint. Brueske never gave up on the play and buried the puck in the vacant Dartmouth net. 1-0 Bobcats.

After a lengthy review: which could have been for goalie interference, a major for hit to the head on Lamarche, or that Zahn might have frozen the puck, Stripes agreed with none of the above and called it a good goal.

In case you were unaware: the Bobcats have been flirting with history for the past little run (and one skater in particular). Coming into today’s game Lamarche was sitting tied with the GOAT Kelly Babstock for 30G on a season, a program record for goal scoring. With less than 5mins to play in the 2nd, Lamarche broke set a new record.

A great forecheck by Laurence Frenette (must be nice to be a good enough skater to pursue the puck behind the opponent’s net: I wouldn’t know) caused a turnover deep in the Dartmouth zone and Lamarche pounced. Walking in from the LW dot all alone, Lamarche moved laterally across the net front and outwaited Zahn before stashing the puck over the outstretched Big Green ‘tendy. Bobcats up 2-0 and Lamarche makes history.

That even garnered a message from Babstock herself.. all the way from Karlstad, Sweden where she’s currently 7-2-9 in 10GP (still got it, not a big deal). And Babs if you’re reading this, we’d love to have you on the podcast sometime. I love how stoked Babstock is for Lamarche in this video: ultimate vibes.

One more look at number 31 for number 8

In the third, the pace ticked up a pace as Dartmouth was trying to crawl back into this one even though Quinnipiac was looking for the final nail in the coffin. Back and forth with long stretches without a whistle as the on-ice officials were letting the ladies play as the calls were kept to a minimum.

With less than 9mins left in regulation, lightning struck twice as Lamarche got her 2nd of the day. After killing off a Dartmouth power play (Frank was excellent on the PK), Lamarche broke into the zone with Aynsley D’Ottavio and put a drag snap on net. Zahn made the initial save but the puck bounded straight up and Lamarche found it first at the right post and she tucked it home on the backhand. Great hustle by D’Ottavio to lead Lamarche out with the outlet and then get on her horse and drive the net. 3-0 Bobcats.

That score held true to the final horn as Frank earned her 9th shutout of the season which puts her 2nd in the nation (not a big deal). Up next for the Bobcats they will welcome in Brown and then Yale next weekend at Hamden to close out their season. Dartmouth hits the road for tilts vs. Union and then RPI to wind down their 2025-2026 campaign.

Some observations from the couch:

• Dartmouth’s Cally Dixon had the silky mitts going all game. She didn’t get on the scoresheet, but she certainly showed off the dangles for the fans on hand.

• Dartmouth’s Hailey Maguire was matched up with Lamarche’s line most of the night either by luck or design and she was huge. Besides playing physically she also saved a goal in the 2nd and was up and down the ice impacting all 3 zones. Stick taps for #27 in green and white.

If you made it this far, you’re obviously a fan of the women’s game. With that in mind, please check out our podcast and you can follow us on all socials @BTGHockeyPod

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