As a sports team, how hard is it to transition from one identity to another in a single season? Quinnipiac men’s lacrosse is attempting to answer that question with mixed results.
Despite a 2-8 record, the Bobcats have played competitive lacrosse for most of the season. The defense and goaltending unit have kept up their end of the bargain, it’s the offense that’s struggled at times.
It’s tough to bounce-back after losing your top five scorers in a single season. This unique situation has forced the Bobcats to focus more on the defensive side of the ball, rather than trying to score 10+ goals every game.
Quinnipiac scored double figures in all but one game last season, the lone single figure outing was a 10-9 loss to LIU April 20. This year it’s been a different story, Quinnipiac has only found itself in double figures twice all season.
It can take time for a new offense to gain on-the-field chemistry, and while Quinnipiac isn’t quite there yet, players have started to break through the mold.
“The offense this year has a completely new look to it,” graduate student midfielder Trevor Douglas said Feb. 6. “We have a lot of young guys stepping into bigger roles.”
One of those younger guys taking a big leap is sophomore attacker Nate Watson. As a freshman, the New Brunswick, Canada native didn’t play at all for the Bobcats, but has taken up the mantle as Quinnipiac’s leading scorer.
Watson has found the net in every single game this season, scoring 18 goals and dishing out 10 assists.
“His craftiness, his movement off-ball, he really does it all,” Poli said on March 29. “He’s been a great addition down there at attack.”
Poli and company put together a tough out-of-conference schedule, which saw road trips up north to play UMass Amherst and even to Colorado to face off against then No. 17 Denver and Air Force.
“I think it just forced us to learn our identity faster,” Poli said on March 22. “It exposed this team right out of the gate with that level of competition, so now we have a better idea of who we are.”
Facing that tough level of competition has helped ease Quinnipiac into its MAAC schedule, starting conference play with a 21-10 statement win over Mount St. Mary’s on March 8.
Although the navy and gold-clad squad have been 1-3 in conference play since, each game has been competitive and down-to-the-wire. Matchups against Marist, Canisius and Manhattan were all decided by just one goal. The only game the Bobcats lost by more than one goal was a 12-8 upset against Iona on March 29.
What’s given the Bobcats a fighting chance during conference play has been their outstanding defense
Senior goaltender Mason Oak has been the talk of the town for men’s lacrosse for the past two years, and that’s for a reason. The reigning MAAC Defensive Player of the Year picked up right where he left off last season, Oak is averaging 12.2 saves per contest which is keeping Quinnipiac in the fight during close games.
“Each team has a different game plan for coming after us,” Oak said on Feb. 6. “But I have a really strong defense in front of me and they give me good shots to see.”
That “strong defense” isn’t going to show up on the stat sheet in most games outside of turnovers. But the commitment of a young Bobcats defense to tracking down possessions and closing passing lanes has proved to be a difference.
The turnover game has served to benefit Quinnipiac, especially down the stretch. So far the Bobcat defense has caused 86 turnovers with three games left to go in the regular season.
But the time for figuring out team chemistry is coming to a close. Quinnipiac is nearing the end of the season and if playoffs started today the Bobcats would be the No. 6 seed. Just six teams advance to the MAAC postseason so if Quinnipiac continues to lose more games, its postseason dreams could be in serious jeopardy.
The Bobcats control their own destiny, as their remaining three games will all be against MAAC opponents.
Win, and you’re in. Lose a couple, and the team’s postseason fate will be up to luck rather than their own merit.
