Behind netminder Bryan Worosz and goals from David Kasch and Matt Ruberto, the Canisius Golden Griffins (13-12-4, 11-5-3 AHA) downed the Quinnipiac Bobcats (13-12-3, 10-6-2 AHA) 2-1 in a hard-fought battle Friday night at the Northford Ice Pavilion.
Quinnipiac, with only one loss in its last eight games, was looking to move past Canisius into third in the standings. The two teams tied last time they played on January 4.
It was an evenly-played game throughout, but Canisius took a 1-0 on Kasch’s tally. The Griffins won the faceoff and Bret Norris took the first shot. Kasch picked up the rebound and just got enough of his stick on the puck to put it past Bobcats netminder Jamie Holden at 5:49 of the first.
“We didn’t take to many chances, played our system and were disciplined,” said Canisius interim head coach Clancy Seymour.
The Bobcats came out in the second fired up, prowling around the net pouncing on any loose pucks that popped out.
The Griffins, though, got their second marker of the night on a Ruberto goal, his first of the season. Off a faceoff win by James Lecuyer, Ruberto received the draw pass and rocketed one through the legs of Holden.
With just over a minute remaining in the second, Quinnipiac cut the lead in half on a power-play goal by Matt Froehlich. Chris White picked off a pass at center ice but fumbled the puck. Ben Nelson picked it up and skated into the Griffins zone, left a drop pass for Froehlich, who wound up and blasted the puck past Worosz.
In the third Quinnipiac pounded Worosz with 23 shots, but he stayed composed and shut down the Bobcats. Worosz made glove save after diving save, blocking everything that came his way.
“He stood on his head tonight and was fantastic for us,” Seymour. “When you have goaltending like that, it picks up your team.”
Quinnipiac outshot the Golden Griffins 41-24 in the game.
“We got one win right and now and well take it heading into tomorrow night,” said Seymour.
The teams finish out the season series Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Northford Ice Pavilion.
