“They have a belief in themselves and a belief in the program where they are destined to do something great. It’s going to take everyone but they are ready to do it.”
Those were the words of Quinnipiac women’s lacrosse head coach Jordan Solari before the 2026 season, talking about her squad and their mentality heading into the new season. The Bobcats were hungry to prove that their 10 win 2025 campaign was not a fluke and that they were here to stay.
Now, 66 days after the Bobcats season kicked off, Solari’s squad has made program history, punching their ticket to the MAAC Tournament for the second season in a row with a 16-9 win over the Sacred Heart Pioneers.
“It’s huge,” Solari said. “That’s what you’re trying to build on. Nothing great was built in a day and we’ve been working on this for a very long time.”
Sacred Heart and Quinnipiac are two teams that always go to war no matter what. Since 2012, the two squads have split their last 10 meetings with each of those 10 coming with a margin of victory fewer than five goals. Every time the Bobcats and Pioneers face off, it’s a guaranteed battle.
Their meeting April 18 was nothing short of that, with the two squads battling back and forth and trading blows left and right. By the end of the first 30 minutes, the Bobcats held a two goal lead.
But then the Bobcats used their depth across the field to grow their lead. While you have the expected contributors such as senior attackers Mia Delmond and Cate Bendowski, there are also members of the roster that don’t get as many eyes but still make their presence felt on the box score such as sophomore Emma Miller-Ayala.
A pair of goals by Delmond and contributions from midfielders senior Julia Givens and Miller-Ayala gave Quinnipiac a six goal lead. That lead turned out to be the difference maker, as the Pioneers attempted to mount a comeback but fell short, ending their season right there.
Now, Quinnipiac turns its attention to upstate New York, drawing the No. 3 Canisius Golden Griffins in the first round of the MAAC Tournament.
The Golden Griffins have quietly put together a solid 2026 campaign, finishing the year with a 12-4 record with six MAAC wins, including a 15-14 victory over Quinnipiac March 25. The key to those victories? Offense.
The Golden Griffins have outscored their opponents by an average of 5.1 goals per game, leading the MAAC in goals scored (246), points (22.8) and shots (30.8) per game. Freshman attacker Ella Forcucci has been a huge part of this success. Not only does the Orchard Park N.Y. native lead the team in goals, but she leads the entire conference in goals scored with 58 while also recording four five-goal games and 13 multi point games.
Junior attacker Megan Previdi has also had a career year, recording 58 points across all 16 games for Canisius, leading not only the Golden Griffins, but the MAAC as a whole.
Forcucci and Previdi are just the tip of the iceberg, as the Canisius lineup is filled with lethal scorers that can cause any defense in the MAAC trouble. For a team full of defensive inconsistencies, it’s going to be a tall order for the Bobcats to defend the Golden Griffin attack.
But just as Canisius has a lineup filled with phenomenal attackers, the Bobcats do as well.
One year removed from a 50 goal and 59 point season, Delmond is leading the team in goals once again, finding the back of the net 41 times this year across all 16 games this season. Fellow senior attacker and captain Bendowski has also had a phenomenal year, setting the Quinnipiac single-season point record against Sacred Heart.
While Delmond and Bendowski have anchored the top of the lineup on offense, younger Bobcats have made their presence felt. Freshman attacker Brie Provenzano has net 17 goals in her debut season and Miller-Ayala ranked third on the team in points with 43 across 15 starts in her sophomore season.
It’s a testament to the culture Delmond and Bendowski are building not only in the offensive group, but the team as a whole.
“Individually, so many people have grown into a better lacrosse player,” Bendowski said. “As a unit on the offensive end we’ve grown to play into each others strengths. The defensive mentality is amazing to watch from the restraining line.”
Quinnipiac versus Canisius will be a battle of two high powered offenses with the goal of moving one step closer to that coveted MAAC Championship. The Bobcats have a tall task in front of them, stopping the best offense the MAAC has to offer.
But just as they have all season, the Bobcats are believing in themselves and believing in the three pillars they entered the season with: passion, grit and discipline.
“They’ll fight for anything and they’ll fight for each other,” Solari said. “Truthfully, I’m proud of them. I’m proud to be associated with them. I love the people and the lacrosse players that they are. I’m just so proud to be a part of it.”
Face-off from Buffalo, N.Y., is set for noon.
