HAMDEN — With only 40 seconds remaining in Quinnipiac women’s soccer’s Wednesday afternoon match against Fairfield, freshman defender Corey Anderson ducked two flying legs, found control with the ball and ripped a screaming shot into the back of the Fairfield goal to tie the match at one.
The shot narrowly slid past the outstretched arms of the Stags’ senior goalkeeper Katie Wright, setting off an eruption from Bobcat fans that shook Quinnipiac Soccer Stadium and secured a dramatic 1-1 draw.
The hottest rivalry in women’s collegiate soccer heated up once again when the Fairfield Stags and the Quinnipiac Bobcats faced off in Bobcat territory. The intensity was written across the jerseys and faces of the competitors, including the blood staining the white jersey of senior midfielder Milena Branco after a violent collision.
The vicious competition forced the referee’s whistle to seemingly echo every few minutes, followed by emotional groans and cheers in response to his every signal.
For the Stags, it was a chance to extend their scorching streak to seven games and obtain an 8-1 record against a familiar foe. The 2024 MAAC Championship rematch saw two teams in completely different positions following their appearance in the title game. Sitting at 2-3-2, the Bobcats sought to prove that they could still hang with the best in the MAAC and regain some momentum.
The first half belonged almost entirely to Quinnipiac, as it dominated possession and pace. The Bobcats outshot the Stags 9-2 in the opening 45 minutes of the match, three of those shots being on goal. Despite the pressure, the Fairfield back line bent but did not break.
The half ended the same way the MAAC championship did— scoreless. However, 12 fouls were whistled in, and the match resembled a tug-of-war for every second of possession.
The tension peaked in the 79th minute, when the Bobcats controlled possession deep in the Stags’ territory, when a vicious slide tackle went uncalled in the penalty box that took out senior forward Morgan Cupo. Quinnipiac fans and coaches were too busy booing and shouting at the referee to see what happened next.
Quickly, Wright picked up the ball and launched it upfield to the leg of freshman midfielder Payton Zaun. After breaking away, Zaun launched it into the middle and into the head of sophomore midfielder Ashley McMahon, who delivered it into the back of the net to put the Stags on the board.
Notably, a Stag fan taunted, “That’s what happens when you don’t have the ref on your side, Quinnipiac.” The rivalry was no longer just on the field, but now in the stands as well.
With all the momentum on Fairfield’s side, Quinnipiac scrambled for an equalizer with just nine minutes left in the match. Head coach Dave Clarke turned to his weapons, subbing in senior midfielder Molly Andrews and Branco with just six minutes left.
Quinnipiac earned a corner kick with just three minutes remaining, but Fairfield’s defense cleared the attempt. As the seconds melted off the clock, it looked as if the Stags would leave Hamden victorious.
The Bobcats had one minute to finish the job. Following a beautiful touch and pass from Andrews to Branco, the Bobcats were on the run. Branco spotted a streaking Cupo in the middle and delivered a strike to her. Cupo sent a shot that got immediately deflected, but found the right leg of Anderson, who swung it and buried it in the corner.
Bobcat Nation erupted. Utter bedlam.
Fans leapt from their seats, pounded the metal bleachers and taunted the Stags fans the same way they had to them. A stubborn dad turned and said, “That wasn’t the ref now, was it?” to a now quiet Fairfield fan section.
The final whistle came a loud 40 seconds later, sealing a 1-1 draw that felt anything but ordinary. Both sides walked away bruised and battered. Fairfield extended its unbeaten streak, but couldn’t extend its win streak.
On the other side, the Bobcats proved they were still dominant in the MAAC and that they could hang with the elite in the conference.
Quinnipiac sits at 2-3-3, as it heads to Andover, Massachusetts, to take on Merrimack on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 1 p.m.
