When looking at the 2025 Quinnipiac women’s lacrosse team in isolation, one sees a lot of ugly. Eight losses and a blowout defeat in round two of the MAAC tournament. But looking at last seasons record and ending, there is a significant season-to-season improvement.

After a two-win 2024 season, the team made great strides on offense and defense to the tune of a 10 win 2025. Now, in 2026, the squad is looking to build off their improvements beyond the quarterfinals of the MAAC tournament.

“We’re gonna do really well, if not better than last year,” senior attacker Cate Bendowski said.

Let’s take a look at how the Bobcats can do exactly that.

SCHEDULE

Kicking off the season, the Bobcats have eight non-conference opponents, six of them on the road, beginning with Hofstra University and ending with Furman University. They will also meet Yale University on Feb. 17 and Bryant University on March 4, both of whom are programs who have been perennially successful in their respective conferences.

The step up in competition for the Bobcats is by design, as head coach Jordan Christopher believes it will better prepare the squad for the season they want to have.

“It’s going to test us for battle,” Christopher said. “Hopefully we’ve learned a lot more of the lessons and we’re ready for what’s to come.”

Quinnipiac opens its conference schedule against the Niagara Purple Eagles, a game that is still on the minds of all 17 returning members of the Bobcat squad.

After going over two decades since their last win vs the Purple Eagles, the Bobcats finally snapped their losing streak last season in wild fashion, with sophomore goaltender Shannon Alden making a foot-save in the final minute of the contest to give Quinnipiac the win.

The Bobcats will also look to avenge past losses, with four of their final five games being against teams who got the better of them in 2025. One of those squads is their in-state rival from down I-95, the Sacred Heart Pioneers.

While the Pioneers took the first meeting, the two teams met again in the first round of the MAAC tournament. That time around the Bobcats came out on top, due in part to offensive explosions from Bendowski and fellow senior attacker Mia Delmond. The two combined for seven of the Bobcats 16 goals while assisting on three more.

“We were playing with such a swag to us,” Delmond said.

Games and performances like that will be crucial in Quinnipiac’s hunt for its first conference championship in its history.

THE YOUTH

In their single largest recruiting class in program history, the Bobcats welcome 17 fresh faces to Hamden, including 12 freshmen. Five of those freshmen will join the midfield group, four will join the defense, two are goaltenders and one is an attacker.

While some of the responsibility of adjusting the new players to Quinnipiac’s culture falls on Christopher, the majority falls on fellow teammates and leaders on the field. This year’s group of captains are taking this challenge head on.

“Every practice I try to help build their confidence,” Bendowski said. “I give them little critiques on what they can do to get better because, as a player, I appreciate that a lot.”

As expected, there are a lot of nerves in joining a new team for the very first time. You’re in a new environment with people you don’t know which is bound to create nerves and anxiety. The solution, rely on the teammates who have been here before.

“The biggest thing about playing a team sport is trust and respect,” Delmond said. “If you’re able to trust the people that you’re with every single day at practice, the games are gonna be a lot less stressful and a lot more fun.”

Alden and sophomore defender Anna Givens are perfect examples of high level performances from the younger players. Givens finished her freshman campaign fifth in total goals scored with 21, total points with 28 and shots with 39.

On the other end of the field, Alden became the primary goalie for the squad and a dominant one at that, recording 169 saves in 18 games between the pipes.

Staying loose and relaxed will be key to getting this year’s freshman class to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors and contribute at a high level to the Bobcat squad.

MENTALITY

On paper this season looks destined to follow years past with steady and consistent improvement. The Bobcats are defining their desire to do just that in one word: “Belief”

“They just have a belief in themselves and a belief in our program that we’re destined to do something great,” Christopher said. “It’s gonna take every one of them to do it, but they’re ready”

Whether on or off the field, the Bobcats are entering the season with belief in themselves, each other and the culture that they have built. One defined by three pillars: passion, grit and discipline.

“I hope those three things are on display every time they see us,” Christopher said. “We’re a team that is going to play to the final whistle, no matter if we’re up 10 or down 10.”

The Bobcats will kick off their season at home, taking on Hofstra University on Saturday, Feb. 14. Face-off is set for 12 p.m.