Quinnipiac struggles continue with 4-1 loss to Union

Quinnipiac at Union (photo copyright BobcatsHockeyBlog)

For the first time in the Rand Pecknold era, Quinnipiac has begun the season 0-4 in conference play. This includes ECAC play and their two former conferences, Atlantic Hockey and the MAAC. A night after coughing up a two goal lead at RPI, #16 Quinnipiac fell behind early and never recovered losing 4-1 to the Union Dutchmen. The lack of discipline by the Bobcats hurt once again with the team taking six penalties highlighted by the second period 10 minute misconduct penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct by Kevin McKernan.

Union opened the scoring just over five minutes into the game on Ryan Scarfo's sixth goal of the season coming off a juicy rebound from Andrew Shortridge off Cole Maier's initial shot ripping home a wrist shot past a diving Quinnipiac goaltender. The Dutchmen made it 2-0 towards the end of the first period on Anthony Rinaldi's 8th goal of the season. 

Quinnipiac's frustrations continued in the second period taking a penalty less than four minutes in followed by the misconduct by McKernan which was then followed by a Union power play goal from Luc Brown. The Bobcats took two more penalties in the period and midway through the period, Quinnipiac made a goaltending change when Keith Petruzzelli relieved Shortridge. 

Quinnipiac at Union (photo copyright BobcatsHockeyBlog)

In the third Quinnipiac avoided being shutout when Chase Priskie scored on the power play for his 4th goal of the season. Karlis Cukste and Scott Davidson assisted on the goal. That was as close as Quinnipiac got for the rest of the game as Luc Brown scored a late power play goal for the Dutchmen to close the scoring. 

Quinnipiac will fall out of the USCHO.com top 20 poll come Monday after being swept yet again this weekend. Quinnipiac will be searching for answers this week as they welcome Brown next Friday to Perrotti Arena along with rival Yale on Saturday as Thanksgiving break commences on the Quinnipiac campus.

Jonathan Singer is a 2004 Quinnipiac alum. You can follow the BobcatsHockeyBlog on Twitter @QHockeyBlog.