NORTHEASTERN FALLS TO QUINNIPIAC, 5-2

The Quinnipiac Bobcats used two power-play goals and two shorthanded tallies to spoil Northeastern's 2006-07 home-opener, defeating the Huskies, 5-2, on Saturday afternoon at Matthews Arena.

In a battle of winless teams, both squads came out hungry in the first period looking to pick up the first win of the season. Quinnipiac struck first with two quick goals, putting the Huskies in an early hole. With Northeastern on a power-play, Quinnipiac's Ashley Jaffray shocked the Huskies with two shorthanded goals in a span of 18 seconds, both coming after Jaffray gathered Husky giveaways and bore down on Husky goaltender Sarah Belliveau.

Northeastern attempted to dig itself out of the early hole, as freshman Chelsey Jones registered her first collegiate goal with 5:15 remaining in the opening period. Jones took a nice pass across the crease from senior captain Amy Goodney and put the puck into the wide-open net, with the second assist going to freshman Ginny Berg. Jones' goal was the Huskies' first power-play tally of the season.

The Huskies, however, could not transfer that momentum to the second period. Quinnipiac's Breana Burton scored her first collegiate goal 4:20 in the period to regain her team's two-goal lead. Less than eight minutes later, Antoinette Maldonado scored her first of 2006-07 off a pass from Hayley McMeekin. The Bobcats continued to put pressure on Belliveau and the Huskies, forcing Belliveau to make a excellent save after Elyse Cole broke in all alone.

The two teams then traded goals in the third period. McMeekin scored the team's second power-play goal of the game with just over six minutes remaining to give the Bobcats their biggest lead of the game. Jones struck back for Northeastern, scoring her second career goal at the 15:40 mark.

For Northeastern, the story once again was special teams play. The Huskies allowed two power-play goals in seven opportunities, yet could only convert one of its nine man-up chances. NU also allowed two shorthanded tallies, giving Northeastern opponents seven power-play goals and four shorthanded goals in three games.

Making her first start of the season, Belliveau made 28 saves in taking her first loss of the season. Quinnipiac's Laura Brennan also made 28 saves in registering her first victory of the young season.

Northeastern begins Hockey East play on Wednesday night, when the team travels to Providence to take on the Friars. Face-off is set for 7 p.m. at Schneider Arena.