With just two seasons under its belt in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the Quinnipiac field hockey team is acting like a group of seasoned veterans when it comes to postseason play.
After winning the MAAC Championship last year, downing Robert Morris 1-0, the Bobcats are preparing for their second consecutive MAAC playoff appearance.
Quinnipiac finished third in the MAAC regular season standings with a 3-2 record this season.
The Bobcats will travel to Monmouth University on Friday to face the Rider Broncs in the MAAC semifinals. The winner will face the victor of the Monmouth/Sacred Heart match on Sunday.
Quinnipiac has fallen to the Broncs by the score of 2-1 in both meetings over the last two years, including this year’s overtime loss. Rider finished 3-2 this season in the MAAC and pull away with the second seed in the tournament.
Senior Danielle Allan has led the Bobcats this year on offense. The forward racked up 20 points during the regular season with eight goals and four assists. Allan finished fifth in the conference in points and goals, and seventh in assists. In last year’s conference semifinal, Allan scored two goals in Quinnipiac’s 5-0 win over Bryant. She was eventually named to the MAAC All-Championship Team.
Sophomore Lea Dietrichs and junior Savanna Reilly have largly contributed, as well. The two have both recorded 13 points on the year. Dietrichs has five goals on the season, while Reilly has six.
Megan Conaboy had another solid season in goal for the Bobcats. Conaboy averaged a .752 save percentage and 6.89 saves per game this year, which are both enough for conference best. In last year’s conference tournament, Conaboy recorded two shutouts and was named to the MAAC All-Championship Team.
Quinnipiac started 2-0 in conference play this season, with wins over both Siena and Bryant. In the 1-0 win over Siena, Savanna Reilly scored the lone goal of the day. The Bobcats then traveled to Bryant and won 3-2 in shootout fashion to continue their blemish-free conference season. Megan Conaboy tallied 12 saves in the win.
Quinnipiac then lost back-to-back overtime matches against Rider and Monmouth, the two teams who finished above Quinnipiac in the conference standings.
In its final regular season game against Sacred Heart, Gemma Cirera scored the lone goal to help lead Quinnipiac to a 1-0 win and enter the postseason on a positive note.
Quinnipiac faces Rider in Long Branch, N.J. on Friday. Game time is set for 11 a.m.
