The last home game of the season for Quinnipiac men’s soccer resulted in a 0-0 tie after regulation and two overtimes against Iona College.

Prior to the game, time was taken to honor the eight seniors and one graduate student for their dedication and help to the men’s soccer program in their time at Quinnipiac.

Quinnipiac head coach Eric Da Costa took time to acknowledge these students as both people and players after the game.

“They’ve meant everything [to the program],” Da Costa said. “We’ll miss them sorely, not for the players they are, but for the people they are and what they’ve given this program. I just hope we’ve given them enough to make up for what they’ve given us.”

On the field, this group leaves as the winningest in Quinnipiac history. In their time at Quinnipiac the program achieved its first ever regular and postseason championships, along with the first NCAA Tournament bid in 2013.

Despite this season’s record, Da Costa knows this class will still leave the program proud of what they accomplished.

“These guys are walking out of here, in spite of the season we’re having now, with their heads held high and highly decorated” he said. “We owe them a lot and we’ll miss them.”

All of eight of the seniors saw the field in today’s game. Iona sophomore Marcus Nunez was given a red card halfway through the first half. This gave Quinnipiac one more player on the field for the remainder of the game, but the team still couldn’t score.
Da Costa recognized the extra opportunities the team had and why the team couldn’t capitalize.

“Our offensive guys have gotten into good positions,” he said. “Its that last touch that is going anywhere but inside the goal. Unfortunately, it’s that simple but it’s a thorn we’ve had to deal with all year.”

Despite their home careers coming to an end, this group still has two road matches left against Siena and Rider before the regular season concludes. Then begins the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament, which Da Costa still has high hopes for.

“Our expectation is to win,” Da Costa said. “We’ve been there before in a playoff scenario— where any team that has a chance has life—and if we have life, we have hope, and if you have hope, then you play to win.”