The damp, cloudy and windy weather conditions in Hamden didn’t bring down the Quinnipiac Bobcats (6-4-1) from defeating the Marist Red Foxes (4-7) to improve to 2-2 in the MAAC play. This contest featured constant physicality and referee involvement as a total of 30 fouls were called, 17 from the Bobcats and 13 from the Red Foxes. However, no red/yellow cards were issued on either side.
Two of the three Bobcat goals came from senior mid-fielder Jess Fontaine; one that occurred in the dying minute of the first half assisted by sophomore Al Pelletier, and the other coming just one minute into the second half assisted again by Pelletier and sophomore mid-fielder Jess Gargan. Junior forward Carly Glaser tallied Quinnipiac’s third goal that was assisted by freshman Ally Grunstein and freshman Mackenzie Tibball in the 70th minute.
On the defensive side of play, freshman goalkeeper Olivia Myszewski stood on her head as she recorded her first shutout of the season with 7 shots attempted. Myszewski additionally made two particularly vital stops that came 43 minutes apart. One of them took place in the 15th minute as she hesitantly came out of her penalty area to smother a Marist scoring opportunity, keeping it scoreless at the time. The other stop occurred at the 58th minute as the 5’7’’ keeper stretched up high extending for the ball and making the catch, which maintained a 2-0 lead for the Bobcats.
Despite the fact that Marist entered this game tied with Quinnipiac for the MAAC league lead in goals per game with 1.9, the Red Foxes were only able to register three shots on goal. In addition, a total of 17 free kicks and one corner kick were awarded to Marist in the match. As the Red Foxes remain winless (0-3) in MAAC play, this 3-0 defeat accounts for a fifth game that Marist has been held scoreless this season. On the positive side, Marist caught Quinnipiac red-handed for offside violations on six separate occasions. The Red Foxes also forced 10 goal kicks to be taken in Quinnipiac’s defensive end of the pitch.
Head coach Dave Clarke in his eighteenth season on the sidelines with Quinnipiac women’s soccer was pleased with his team’s effort and performance from this match. Clarke’s halftime adjustment actually took place at an unusual juncture of the game.
“We settled down and played much better mentally with about 20 minutes remaining in the first half,” Clarke said. “Ever since then, it really made a difference throughout the rest of the game.”
One of those adjustments, according to Clarke, was substituting Grunstein and Pelletier in the first half and having them continue to significantly impact the rest of the match.
“My goal as the head coach for Quinnipiac soccer is to build and develop a squad that’s willing to buy into the program and my coaching,” Clarke said. I think substituting Grunstein and Pelletier into the game ended up being the difference maker in this game.”
Women’s soccer looks ahead to a matchup on Wednesday with the 4-7 Manhattan Jaspers where they look to improve to above .500 in the MAAC play and extend their win streak to three games.
