The Quinnipiac Bobcats took on the No. 10 ranked UMass Minutewomen searching for their second win of the season. However, the field hockey team fell short, losing 7-1.

Quinnipiac’s lone goal was scored by junior midfielder Tina Watkins seven minutes into the second half with her team already trailing 4-0. Senior midfielder Christine Grady sent Watkins a pass off a corner which she deflected into the cage for the goal. It was Watkins’ first career goal.

UMass controlled possession for most of the game, though the Quinnipiac defense did keep the score close in the first half. Although the Bobcats kept denying the Minutewomen of a goal, UMass would often regain possession on an intercepted pass. This trend continued throughout the game for the Bobcats.

UMass was the first to get onto the scoreboard when Kate Heineman received the pass from Kim Young in front of the cage for the goal in the 14th minute. They scored a second time thanks to a pass from Makaela Potts to Katie Kelly in front the cage for the goal in the 23rd minute.

Meanwhile on the Bobcats’ end of the field, any opportunity they had to score was denied by the Minutewomen defense.

Kelly scored a second goal after receiving a pass off of a corner from Heineman with 12 minutes left in the first half. The Minutewomen scored again four minutes later on a slap shot by Potts, who received an assist from Young.

“We have to be more patient on defense and let them make mistakes,” said head coach Becca Kohli.

Thirteen minutes after Watkins put Quinnipiac on the board, Jill Powers responded with a goal for UMass, who received a pass from Potts in front of the net.

The Minutewomen continued their scoring barrage with another goal six minutes later, this time from Kara Charochak. Charochak received a pass from Potts through traffic and scored past the right side of Quinnipiac goalkeeper, Amanda Delouise, making it 6-1.

UMass tacked on one more goal with five minutes left when Jaime Bourazeris sent a pass to Nicole Cordero off a corner, and Cordero redirected the ball into the goal after it was blocked.

With the win, the Minutewomen improve to 7-2 this season, while the Bobcats fall to 1-6 thus far.

“I don’t think it was a bad performance . how we step up on Tuesday will be the key” Kohli said. “This was good preparation to play No. 5 in the nation (UConn).”