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NCAA

No. 8 Quinnipiac vs. No. 5 Colgate: ECAC game of the week

The Bobcats look to upset the Raiders in Hamden

Who: SB Nation No. 5 Colgate (12-0-1 overall; 5-0-0 in the ECAC) at No. 8 Quinnipiac (9-4-1 overall; 4-2-0 in the ECAC)

When: Saturday, Nov. 19, at 3 p.m. ET

Where: TD Bank Sports Center, Hamden, CT

How to Watch: Quinnipiac Watch Live

The Skinny

This is the second consecutive week that Colgate has been tabbed for the ECAC GOTW, as it was the pick before last week’s victory at home versus Yale. The Raiders had a good week, knocking off the Bulldogs 4-3 and Brown 3-0 in Hamilton. Colgate has been flying high against a fairly weak schedule, but this weekend presents a tough challenge with back-to-back road games against Princeton and the Bobcats.

Quinnipiac continues to have high expectations for the season, but has dropped tough home matchups against ranked opponents already this year, losing to Boston College, Clarkson, and St. Lawrence. Last week, the Bobcats jumped on Dartmouth early, pouring in 15 shots in the first period, but did not finally put away the Big Green until midway through the third. Quinnipiac struggled on Saturday in Boston against Harvard, going down 1-0 before rallying to win 2-1.

Colgate Players to Watch

#9 - Jessie Eldridge, Forward

Eldridge came up big last week against the Bulldogs, scoring two goals and assisting on a third in the Raiders 4-3 win. She is tied for second nationally in points scored and is near the top of all ECAC offensive categories this season: second in overall points (22), second in assists (15), and fifth in goals (7).

#33 - Julia Vandyk, Goaltender

Vandyk struggled against Yale on Friday, letting in three goals, but bounced back nicely against Brown, shutting out the Bears on Saturday 3-0. Fifth in country with a 1.18 goals against average and a .948 save percentage, she faces a tough challenge in Hamden against the dangerous Taylar Cianfarano.

Quinnipiac Players to Watch

#22 - Taylar Cianfarano, Forward

Cianfarano, the 2015-16 ECAC Player of the Year as a sophomore after leading the league in goals and points, has continued her dominance this season. She is tied for first in the nation in power play goals (5) and leads the ECAC with 10 goals (tied for fifth in the country). She netted the gamewinner last week against Harvard but failed to net a goal in the Bobcats’ home losses against BC, Clarkson, and St. Lawrence.

#34 Sydney Rossman, Goaltender

Rossman, the 2015-16 ECAC Goaltender of the Year, currently ranks eighth in country with a 1.36 goals against average and .929 save percentage. She leads the country in minutes played (796:59 over 14 games).

The Pick:

The Bobcats have struggled on home ice against ranked opponents this season (2-3-0) and have not looked right of late. Colgate is flying high on the backs of Eldridge and Vandyk. However, this week the Bobcats finally grab a home victory against a quality opponent and upset the Raiders 3-2.

Pick Record for the Season: 1-0-0

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