The Quinnipiac Bobcats field hockey team failed to extend their winning streak to three games as they fell to the Columbia Lions, 2-1, on Sunday. It was the Bobcats’ second loss at home this season while they fall to a 3-6 record on the season.

Columbia controlled possession in the first half, taking four shots including two shots on goal. With 2:35 left in the half, Columbia senior midfielder Jennifer Trieschman scored on a fast break off a pass by sophomore midfielder Allison Smith. It was Trieschman’s fifth goal of the season for the Lions and her first points in five games.

Quinnipiac came out aggressive in the second half, willing to put the ball towards the net in hopes of creating scoring chances. This worked just over five minutes into the third quarter as senior Valerie Perkins deflected the ball into the net for her first goal of the season off a pass from graduate student Bianka Strubbe. That assist gave Strubbe 10 points on the season, a career-high.

The Lions regained control of the game and capitalized on a penalty corner with just over a minute left in the third quarter. Junior Kelsey Farkas made the assist off the entry pass and sophomore Brooke Gasser was able to put it home for her second goal of the year giving the Lions a 2-1 lead.

The Bobcats came close to tying the game with 9:57 left in the fourth when Perkins scored what looked to be her second goal of the game. Unfortunately, the call was overturned by the referees after a video review.

What could’ve been a deflating call didn’t seem to faze the Bobcats as they kept pressuring and fighting. The team has been trying to foster a tough mentality to not give up even in difficult moments.

“We always want to show that’s karma,” Strubbe said. “If you don’t give us a goal, we’re going to score another one. Unfortunately, we didn’t but we had a lot of chances.”

With three minutes left the Bobcats pulled freshman goalie Hedda Biermann-Ratjen to play with an extra attacker and increase the tempo. Unfortunately, they couldn’t add to their second-half total of five shots on goal. While disappointed with the loss, the team was proud of their second-half effort.

“I think the third and fourth quarter was a really nice showing, especially as a group effort to make a change,” head coach Becca Main said.

After a great week in practice, freshman Josie Sweeney played 34 minutes off the bench, more than her total minutes coming into the game. Since coming back from a pre-season injury, Sweeney has made an impact in practice and scrimmages.

“About a week and a half ago she just started putting the ball away and she started to score in practice,” Main said. “Josie not only showed that she earned it in practice and got a little playing time and built from there.”

Sweeney wasn’t the only underclassman to get increased playing time as the team proves its deep roster can have impactful minutes. As the team hits the middle of the season, Main wants to ensure the players who’ve earned a spot all get their chances.

“We have some depth and put some players in today that showed the depth and have as many minutes like Josie Sweeney, Julianna Cappello and Isabella Sinibaldi as well as others who did a nice job.”

Five of the team’s nine games have been decided by just one goal, a tough task mentally for such a young team. However, the team doesn’t want this to affect them moving forward.

“We’ve won two games by one and lost three by one,” Main said, “and I think that can completely shift your season, your confidence, and kind of the direction that you’re moving.

Looking ahead to their next game against conference opponent Liberty University, the team knows its capable of more and wants to focus on playing at the high level they’ve shown in previous games.

“What we’re looking for is a little bit more consistency,” Main said. “We can go from being the best team I’ve seen all year to the worst team in just one game.”