The Bobcats took an early lead over Yale and never looked back, earning the conference title in a 5-1 victory in front of what felt like a Quinnipiac home crowd. 

“I’m just so proud of this hockey team,” said Head Coach Cassandra Turner. “You look at our season and the consistency we’ve had, for them to truly stick to our game plan today and execute and perform was just amazing. I could not be more proud of this group.”

She noted how challenging the path to the final was, but the team was prepared and had its eye on this moment since the start.

“From the very beginning of the season, this group of players had something called ‘Push to Placid,’ and it was this big poster in our lounge,” Turner said. “Every Thursday, we celebrated little things that would lead us to this. It was all driven in terms of the things they wanted to notice about one another from the players. It was getting personal bests in the gym, it was being a great teammate, it was people who really were dialed into getting better. It really brought value to the little things that truly bring you to a championship. They talked about ‘Believe in the Bobcats,’ and I think that definitely was another piece to it. You combine those two together, and I really feel that helped our leaders drive this group forward. Nothing really intimidated them and they knew that everyone needed to trust in what they could bring to this group and trust in one another to execute.”

Avery Bairos ‘28, Zoe Uens ‘26 and Emerson Jarvis ’26 each scored once during the game — and Ella Johnson ‘29 scored twice. 

“Our group is special, and we know that,” said Uens. “But I think going through different adversities — we won in overtime against Princeton yesterday, the last weekend we were in a three-game series, and we went to game three — we take it forward and we support each other. We have such a special group, and we support each other no matter what’s going on, and we are going to take all those lessons forward and attack the next weekend.”

Uens said she feels energized by the fact the team continues to build every game.

“It’s just so fun playing with this team,” Uens said. “We have so many quirky things that we do before the game, and I’m so excited that we get to play another game.”

Goaltender Felicia Frank ‘28 was crowned Tournament MVP for stopping 31 shots in total and finishing off a 61-save weekend, where she gave up only two goals.

“Frankie has been the heart and soul of our team this year,” said Makayla Watson ‘28. “She has played every single game. We are so lucky to have her. She keeps getting better every day. She pushes her teammates, and she is just so calm back there. As a defender, it’s nice knowing that you have Frank behind you to have your back. She’s such a good teammate and has honestly been the star for us.”

Turner agreed.

“She was pretty unbelievable today,” she said of Frank. “That second period, the number of moments I was like ‘she did it again.’ She just held us in. And that’s what it takes to win a championship. She just has that calmness to her as a person, and it carries over into how she plays the game. She wants to do everything she can to help her team. She is the most selfless person. She is just a gem and was everything for our team today.”

Uens said she finds inspiration from her teammates, and particularly Bairos.

“Last season, she had an injury, and she’s battled back throughout the summer — and throughout the whole season,” Uens said. “She has built every game on the next one and she just gets better and better. She is such a good teammate to have. No matter what role she’s in, she’s pushing and she’s doing so well for us. For her to have the success this weekend — on such a big weekend — it’s just awesome to see. It’s a testament to our team that anyone can score, anyone can play big minutes and anyone can play any role.”

Women’s ice hockey captain Mia Lopata ’25, MAT ’26, has now won a high school state championship and collegiate conference championship on the same revered Olympic ice.

“There’s no words to describe this feeling,” she said. “The only thing I said on the ice was ‘I don’t lose in this building.’ It’s such a full circle moment for my hockey career. If you would have told me when I was in high school that I was going to win an ECAC championship here, I don’t know if I would have believed you, and it’s just such a special moment to do it with this group of ladies.”

Of the more than 4,000 fans who attended the tournament this weekend, many were Bobcat faithful, like adjunct professor Andrea Obston.

"It was one of the great joys of my teaching career at Quinnipiac to be able to cheer on my student, No. 21, Laurence Frenette in Lake Placid’s famed arena," she said. "To see a student I know well in the classroom performing at such a high level in a completely new setting was exhilarating. I feel so honored to see her fly and win! Onward Bobcats!"

After the game, the Quinnipiac pennant was raised high above the arena commemorating the Bobcats’ championship win, affirming a belief Lopata said she had since the moment she walked onto the ice hours earlier.

“I didn’t have a doubt the whole entire game,” she said. Before I even came here, I got my nails done. My nails need to be done when I lift that trophy. Today when we went up 4-1, that was the moment I knew we were going to win this. We have been saying since we went to Ireland ‘Believe in the Bobcats’ — and a lot of our staff and players believed in the Bobcats. And we did it.”

She emphasized the support she and her teammates have and continue to receive — and how powerful and important it is.

“The support from our families and friends is unmatched,” Lopata said. “We definitely had the most fans here cheering for us — and all the little kids who came and supported us — it’s unreal knowing we have a whole group of people supporting us. We feel their love and their cheering helps us.”

She had a simple but powerful message for all the kids who have cheered on the Bobcats throughout the season and postseason so far: 

“The team is special and we have played this season with so much heart,” Lopata said. “I think that would be my biggest message to little girls who are looking up to us. Chase your dreams and you can accomplish anything.”

Lopata said their work isn’t done yet.

“I’m hoping for a Frozen Four and chase a natty,” she said with a broad smile. 

A testament to the program’s close-knit, family-like connection is how many alumnae from the 2016 team — the last to earn the conference championship — have wished the team well before the game and texted congratulatory notes within minutes of winning the title again.

Turner said that she was grateful that the tournament was in Lake Placid, saying this is a direction the league needs to go.

“We set the bar here in this ECAC championship,” she said. “I couldn’t be more excited about it being hosted here. They did a tremendous job building an atmosphere that these women absolutely deserve in a championship. This was special. The crowds were awesome — they were loud — the energy was amazing, and I’m really excited for where this is going to continue to move forward.”

Bobcat fans cheered the team on from Lake Placid as well as at a watch party in Hamden.

The team will learn where it will compete in the NCAA Tournament at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 8 during the selection show, broadcast nationally on ESPNU.

“We are going to watch together at Quinnipiac in our lounge,” Turner said. “It’s nice for it to be us and to be together as a group as we see where we will be heading.”