Quinnipiac field hockey dropped to 0-2 in the Big East, after getting shut out 2-0 in its second conference matchup against the Old Dominion Monarchs Friday night.
The Monarchs came out strong, landing three shots on goal before the three minute mark, but Quinnipiac senior goaltender Cristina Torres was able to block all the shots. Eventually, the Monarchs opened the scoring just over three minutes into the game when freshman forward Josie Painter, who leads the team with six goals, snuck a shot by Torres off a turnover.
Throughout the first quarter of play, the Bobcats could not keep any sustained pressure in the offensive zone, being outshot 5-0, by Old Dominion, in the first quarter.
In the second quarter Quinnipiac settled in, stringing together longer possessions and generating offensive zone time. The Bobcats controlled play for stretches but still failed to register a shot on goal.
Old Dominion nearly doubled its lead when junior midfielder and defender Josi John broke free from the defense off a deflection, but Torres came out of the cage to cut down the angle and make the save, keeping the game in reach for the Bobcats.
The first corner of the game was awarded to the Monarchs with under three left in the second quarter, but Torres blocked the shot and Quinnipiac could clear the ball out of the shooting circle.
For the Bobcats, sophomore midfielder Lucia Donati took a shot in the final minutes of the quarter but missed wide, sending Quinnipiac scoreless going into the second half.
Quinnipiac earned its first corner opportunity just under three minutes into the third quarter, despite a challenge by Old Dominion. Sophomore midfielder Francisca Eschoyez — the team leader in goals and assists — took a backhand shot, but the 2024 Second Team ALL-BIG EAST junior goaltender Suus Broers saved it.
Old Dominion got back on the offensive push, with freshmen midfielder Katie Bates taking a shot, but Torres made another save, five for the game, and crushed the best offensive chance by the Monarchs in the third quarter.
The rest of the quarter saw a lot of back and forth action in neutral territory until the Bobcats earned their second corner. Freshman offensive player Rozemarijn Van Keulen took the shot, but the play was whistled down for a dangerous ball.
Neither team found the back of the net in the third, as the score remained 1-0 in favor of Old Dominion.
Quinnipiac tried to generate more time on the attack in the final frame. Donati had a chance when she ran up the left side of the field, but was soon crowded by multiple Monarchs who got the turnover.
The Monarchs then doubled their lead just over four minutes into the quarter when junior midfielder Cosima Perleth took a long shot from the edge of the circle and junior forward and midfielder Avery Jackson deflected the ball past Torres.
Quinnipiac had three penalty corners in the fourth, its best looks the whole afternoon, but Broer and the Monarch defense held firm.
The Monarchs continued to hold Quinnipiac at bay and were eventually awarded a penalty stroke after an infraction in the circle, despite the Bobcats’ challenge. To the joy of the Bobcats, Sophomore defender Serena Langendoen took the stroke but missed wide.
After the failed stroke, Torres was pulled from the goal to put an extra attacker on for the Bobcats in an attempt to score a goal in the final five minutes.
Quinnipiac was desperate for a break, chasing down and diving for the ball, but the Monarch defense held the Bobcats scoreless at the final whistle.
The loss marks the Bobcats’ second straight loss being shutout in conference play, after falling 2-0 to Liberty University on Sept. 19.
Old Dominion extended its dominance in the all-time series to 14-1, while Quinnipiac’s lone victory remained in 2016, from a 3-2 overtime decision.
The Bobcats return home to Hamden next week on Oct. 3 to host Temple University at 1 p.m. in another Big East matchup.
