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NCAA Game(s) of the Week: Quinnipiac at Colgate

Another top ECAC matchup headlines this weekend’s slate of games

The ECAC season, as expected has been full of close games, with plenty of teams jockeying both for playoff position and the conference lead. The Bobcats and Raiders have their sights set on exactly that. Just two points currently separate them in the standings, making this a critical matchup for both teams.

Tune into the game on ESPN+ if you’re in the U.S., or on Stretch if you’re based outside the U.S.

No. 6/7 Quinnipiac (11-1-2) at No. 5/8 Colgate (13-3-0) | Saturday, Nov. 20, at 3 p.m. ET

The Raiders, after a really hot start, were tabbed the early-season ECAC favorites. They’ve done well to show they’re a highly competitive team who’s firmly in the national conversation. The Bobcats, strangely, began the season unranked but have since climbed the rankings and positioned themselves as a team to be reckoned with. They’re currently tied with Princeton for first place in the ECAC and are off to the best start in program history.

Led by their trademark high-flying offense, Colgate leads the league with 5.13 goals per game this season. And on the other side, the Bobcats’ stalwart defense has them ranked second in the ECAC with 1.20 goals against on average. This should be a great matchup between a tenacious offense and a very strong blue line—both of which feature as much in depth as they do in skill and ability.

Players to Watch

Colgate: Danielle Serdachny

The heartbeat of Colgate’s offense, Serdachny leads the country in scoring with 28 points in 16 games. She also ranks second nationally with 81 shots on goal. She’s a constant threat to generate chances for her team and has a great touch for high-danger chances in particular—she can score them on her own or feed her teammates for a better opportunity. Serdachny is one player who can force cracks in the defense and make the most of it when she does—that’ll be important when going up against a strong Quinnipiac D.

Quinnipiac: Zoe Boyd

Boyd might be overshadowed by some of her fellow blueliners in terms of overall production, but there’s no denying what she brings to the Bobcats’ defensive core. She’s a linchpin in their game plan of snuffing out attacks, forcing players outside, and churning play back up ice. If Boyd is on her game, Quinnipiac has a great chance to limit the Raiders’ attack and control the majority of possession.

Our Thoughts

Gabs Fundaro: I think this will be a really entertaining game, especially considering the strength of both defenses here. There’s a lot to be said about Colgate’s offense, but their blue line is just as important to their transition and setting the pace they want to play at. That said, I’m a big believer in this Quinnipiac team. The Bobcats were undefeated through 13 games this season, until a 1-0 loss to Princeton in which they led in shots, 37-18. They do a great job of executing their game plan, regardless of their opponent, and I think they have the edge in this one.

Anne Tokarski: Honestly, at this point in the season, trying to predict who will win a game like this is like throwing a dart, blindfolded, at a dart board the size of the entire country. That being said, my money is on Colgate pulling out a win on Saturday. It’ll be really key for the Raiders’ offense to get shots on net and past the Quinnipiac blue line, but I feel like they have the power to do it and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a tight, low-scoring game on the scoreboard after the clock winds down.

Around the (rest of the) NCAA:

Friday, November 19:

  • Holy Cross at Boston College at 2 PM ET (NESN in New England, College Sports Live out of market)
  • Merychurst at RIT at 2 PM ET (Stretch)
  • Saint Anselm at LIU at 3 PM ET (NEC Front Row)
  • Princeton at Colgate at 3 PM ET (ESPN+ U.S., Stretch international)
  • Quinnipiac at Cornell at 3 PM ET (ESPN+)
  • Franklin Pierce at Post at 4 PM ET
  • Minnesota Duluth at Bemidji State at 4 PM ET (B1G+)
  • Brown at Clarkson at 6 PM ET (ESPN+ U.S., Stretch international)
  • Yale at St. Lawrence at 6 PM ET (ESPN+ U.S., Stretch international)
  • Minnesota State at Ohio State at 6 PM ET (B1G+)
  • Boston University at Maine at 6 PM ET (College Sports Live)
  • Providence at UConn at 6 PM ET (College Sports Live)
  • Sacred Heart at Saint Michael’s at 7 PM ET (Stretch)
  • New Hampshire at Northeastern at 6 PM ET (College Sports Live)
  • Penn State at Syracuse at 7 PM ET (Cuse TV)
  • Minnesota at St. Cloud State at 7 PM ET (B1G+)/

Saturday, November 20:

  • Minnesota State at Ohio State at 1 PM ET (B1G+)
  • Merychurst at RIT at 1 PM ET (Stretch)
  • UConn at Northeastern at 1:30 PM ET (College Sports Live)
  • Saint Anselm at LIU at 2 PM ET (NEC Front Row)
  • Yale at Clarkson at 3 PM ET (ESPN+ U.S., Stretch international)
  • Princeton at Cornell at 3 PM ET (ESPN+)
  • Penn State at Syracuse at 3 PM ET (Cuse TV)
  • Wisconsin at St. Thomas at 3 PM ET (B1G+)
  • Minnesota Duluth at Bemidji State at 3 PM ET (B1G+)
  • Brown at St. Lawrence at 3 PM ET (ESPN+ U.S., Stretch international)
  • Franklin Pierce at Post at 3:30 PM ET
  • St. Cloud State at Minnesota at 4 PM ET (B1G+)
  • Sacred Heart at Saint Michael’s at 4 PM ET (Stretch)
  • Vermont at Merrimack at 7 PM ET (College Sports Live)/

Sunday, November 21:

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