HAMDEN — Coming off back-to-back wins against Wagner and Providence, Quinnipiac field hockey returned home to take on Lafayette for an out-of-conference clash. Through grit and determination, the Bobcats emerged victorious 1-0 in a shootout. The weather played a major role in the game, with the first Nor’easter of the season bringing cold rain and wind to the field.
Lafayette came hard out the gate, controlling possession early in the first quarter. However, every time the Leopards would get an offensive break, the Bobcats were there, with particular heroics from junior defender Katie Shanahan and senior midfielder Mo Quaile. Toward the end of the first quarter, Quinnipiac got pressure on Lafayette, being awarded a penalty corner that gave the Bobcats some much-needed energy.
The second quarter opened stronger for the Bobcats with another quick penalty corner, though this was denied by the Leopards. The rest of the quarter saw the teams go back and forth as the rain intensified, each team’s offense being snuffed out by the defense. Quinnipiac in particular found it difficult to break in, with the Leopards seeming to always have a stick or a body in the passing and shooting lanes.
The second half saw one of the stars of the game truly begin to emerge in senior goalie Cristina Torres. Despite the conditions, she stayed sharp, coming up with two big saves in the third and another two in the fourth. With just about five minutes to go in the game, Torres committed to making a diving stop on a Lafayette offensive chance and with backup from sophomore midfielder Jule Hoefer, to keep the game 0-0.
Shanahan continued her strong game defensively as well, shutting down a penalty corner attempt in the third and denying a breakaway chance for Lafayette in the fourth. The final frame of regulation also saw the Bobcats’ best offensive looks of the game. With just over six minutes left, freshman forward Rozemarijn Van Keulen seemed to slip on the wet turf and just missed a wide open net on a heads-up pass from Quaile. Shortly after, Quinnipiac got three chances at a penalty corner.
With both defenses bending but refusing to break, the Leopards and Bobcats headed to overtime, where, through two ten-minute periods, the game continued at the pace it had fallen into.
Both teams had offensive chances. For Quinnipiac, a good opportunity for junior forward Martina Calveira went just wide with seven minutes left in the first overtime period.
Torres, on the other end, continued to keep the Bobcats in it, making a big stop with a minute and a half to go in the first overtime ensuring the second. She then made two saves while on the ground with four minutes to go in the second, keeping the Bobcats alive. After the Leopards’ late chance off a penalty corner with just a minute and a half to go failed, the game headed to shootouts.
The shootout frame was where Quinnipiac earned its victory, with Quaile, Shanahan and sophomore midfielder Francisca Eschoyez all scoring. Torres allowed just one goal from Lafayette junior midfielder Stella Malinowski. After the goal from Shanahan and a final stop on junior defender Lena Thedrian, the Bobcats clinched the win, extending their win streak to three.
Quinnipiac will look to extend its streak to four and claim its second Big East victory against Villanova on Friday Oct. 17, in Hamden.. The game is slated for 1 p.m.
