By Kevin Noonan, QBSN Chairman

Despite the government shutdown putting government-related sporting events in jeopardy this week, the clearance came through for the Army Black Knights to make the trek to Hamden to face the Quinnipiac Bobcats — who came through with a 39-27 win.

“We were thrilled that it was back on,” Carlson said. “This is something we wanted, we wanted a home game, we wanted this to happen. I’m glad they got to show the fans, especially here right on QU’s surface, just what we’re made of.”

It was the first ever win in Northeast Conference play for Quinnipiac (5-2, 1-2 Northeast) as they are playing in their third different conference in three seasons.

“We weren’t really focused on the numbers in the conference but I will tell you any time you beat the United States Army in anything you have to earn it,” Carlson said.

The Bobcats came off a win over Virginia the previous week with another strong effort.  Quinnipiac scored 24 straight points in the second half after Army (3-2, 2-1 Northeast) cut the lead to two points at 15-13.

“I don’t think there was a thing we did wrong today,” head coach Becky Carlson said. “There were sure things that we need to improve on but I think what won this game is what you can’t see. At one point we had 14 players at there and we put 15 back out on the field. They just never left each other’s side.”

Sophomore Natalie Kosko (Sebastian, Fla.) used her trademark stiff-arm move to block Kate Roose and cross the try line to reclaim the momentum and give Quinnipiac a 20-13 lead.

One Bobcat stole the show in the second half, as junior Elisa Cuellar (Palm Bay, Fla.) took over late in the second half to secure the win. Cuellar picked off a pass at midfield and took off for the in-goal-area on a 50 yard run for the try.

“I think the momentum was strong and I think that just made it even stronger,” Carlson said. “I think watching Elisa Cuellar take that steal and go in was just huge for us. She’s been on the blitz; she certainly hasn’t been practicing at that position.”

Cuellar wasn’t done after that try, as she picked off one more pass and took it down towards the try line before passing to junior Shannon Durkin (Oakland, Calif.)  who scored easily to give Quinnipiac a 34-13. Durkin added one more try to cap the scoring for the Bobcats.

Freshman Taylor Schussler (Westminster, Md.) scored her first career try in the first half for the Bobcats as she helped set the tone early in the match.

“It was amazing … being here and being able to contribute to the team in anyway, even if I wouldn’t have scored, any amount of contribution to the team is what we’re looking for, so today it was incredible especially because it was at home,” Schussler said.

Army tried to keep it close early on as they trailed just 15-13 early in the second half and made the match closer than it really was toward the end with two tries in the final four minutes from Kate Roose and Carissa Pekney to cut the lead to 39-27.

Pekney’s final try of the game came as time expired, as the referee signaled the end after Elizabeth McCracken missed a conversion kick.

Leading the offense for the Bobcats were Durkin and senior Allison Gnys (Cumberland, R.I.) with 10 points and nine points on the day respectively while McCracken had 10 points to lead the Black Knights.