In a game all about celebrating local youth soccer, it was youth that powered Quinnipiac women’s soccer to a 2-1 victory over the Rider Broncos Saturday afternoon. 

After starting the season 0-3-1, the pressure was on for Quinnipiac heading into its first conference game of the season. 

Their opponent? A hungry Rider team, also looking for its first MAAC victory. 

Early on, momentum favored the visiting squad. Rider was able to capitalize on Quinnipiac’s tough opening five, with junior forward Ava Ferrie’s shot sneaking through the hands of senior goalie Gwen Hoyt even after freshman defender Audrey Lefebvre’s diving efforts to keep the ball from dribbling past the goal line. 

After the opening minute jitters, Quinnipiac was able to sustain great pressure as the half continued. 

However, it was execution that eluded the Bobcat side as the game progressed. With neither team maintaining significant possession and both sides creating meaningful chances, it was all about who would execute a complete play. 

For Quinnipiac, that was sophomore forward Addyson Earl, whose effort pressuring the Rider backline resulted in a turnover within the penalty area. From there, Earl was able to locate senior forward Milena Branco cutting toward the goal, who put the ball away to tie the game one-all. 

Even after a few strong opportunities from both teams, including an Earl breakaway mere minutes after the goal, the score remained tied at one. The half ended with a bit of chippiness, with Rider’s goal scorer receiving the lone yellow card of the half. 

Going into the final forty-five, Quinnipiac head coach Dave Clarke had an important decision to make. Keep running with Hoyt in goal, or test sophomore keeper Olivia Jarvis.  In a game where ten other underclassmen took the field, the decision was a no-brainer. 

“The hard thing is you want to be able to look at Liv in situations,” Clarke said. “The longer it goes in the season…the less likely you are to make changes.”

After a hard-fought first half, Quinnipiac rallied around the young goaltender, coming out swinging with sustained pressure in the final third. 

The Bobcats, who earned six corners in the first, finally managed to convert on their seventh attempt. After Earle earned the set piece, it was senior forward Morgan Cupo netting her first of the season. 

First-year defender Corey Anderson’s assist on the play would mark the second underclassman point of the afternoon, capping an excellent scoring effort from the young Bobcats. 

Jarvis did not disappoint in her second showing of the season, stopping each Rider shot thrown on frame after the go-ahead goal and making timely diving saves on multiple attempts from beyond the penalty area.

“No one had any doubt that she was gonna play her best, and she did a good job,” Cupo said.

Even with the influx of young players on the field in the critical final moments, including Anderson and first-year defender Marina Mahon, the Bobcats were able to withhold Rider’s final push to score.  

After the game, it was all smiles from the Quinnipiac side. 

“It feels amazing,” Jarvis said. “After every game, we’ve come back and we regain the focus. Everyone does the work on and off the field.”

For Cupo, the feeling went beyond the joy of scoring her first goal to lift Quinnipiac to its fifth straight win in a conference opener. It’s also about guiding the next generation of players to be their best. 

“Leading by example and really working hard. I know I was in their shoes a while ago, so just doing the same as the people I was looking up to,” Cupo said.

For a Quinnipiac side looking to mix youth with experience and bounce back from its tough stretch to start the season, this opening MAAC win looks to be a fresh start. 

Quinnipiac will travel to Niagara, N.Y., to take on Niagara on Sep. 13. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m.