By Nick Dench, QBSN Staff Writer
Quinnipiac held on against Robert Morris, 16-15, to hold onto their playoff hopes going into Sunday’s game against St. Francis University (PA).
In a hard-fought game in which the Bobcats never trailed the Colonials, senior Sarah Allen (Glastonbury, Conn.), junior Michaela Tinsley (Shrewsbury, Mass.), and sophomore Kyra Ochwat (Farmingdale, N.Y.) led the scoring. Allen scored two goals, including her twentieth of the season, and tallied six assists on the day. Tinsley scored four goals including her 30th and Ochwat added five goals, boosting her season total to 39, and one assist.
“We always look to our seniors and juniors, our more experienced players to be able to maintain their composure and stay poised,” Coach Danie Caro said.
The Bobcats opened the scoring one minute into the game, with Lianne Toomey’s (Hicksville, N.Y.) 27th goal of the year on a pass from behind the net by Allen. Ochwat scored on a similar play one minute and a half later, giving the Bobcats a 2-0 lead.
Robert Morris scored its first goal of the game five minutes into the game on a goal from Kristin Yoviene. After this goal the Bobcats scored five straight goals, opening up a 7-1 lead.
Robert Morris answered with five goals of its own but could never overtake the one-goal deficit. Both teams scored one more goal before the end of the half as the Bobcats went into halftime leading 8-7 with momentum on Robert Morris’ side.
Ochwat scored two quick goals at the beginning of the second half, one on a free position, to regain the momentum for Quinnipiac. The teams traded goals to make the score 12-10 Bobcats before Quinnipiac scored four unanswered goals with Allen and Ochwat contributing on all four.
“Composure, just not letting up also, stay calm because they were the ones getting nervous,” said Allen, on playing late in the game.
Robert Morris fought back bringing the score back to 16-15 Bobcats. Chelsea Guerrera (Wantagh, N.Y.) won the important draw, one of only seven for the Bobcats on the day. The Bobcats held onto the ball for the remaining time, to close out the game.
“I’m real proud of the rest of the team, they had a lot of poise and composure at the end when it was getting a little bit crazy and they were able to hang on for the win,” Caro said.
