Providence, R.I. – The Quinnipiac Bobcats dropped the first game of their 2023 season Sunday, falling to the Providence Friars in a 3-0 shutout.
The Friars were coming off of a 2-0 win over the Iona Gaels just three days ago, and the quick turnaround seemed to help them. Providence jumped out to an early two-score lead in the first half behind a pair of goals by junior Gillian Kenney.
The first came in the 10th minute, as first-year Kayla Briggs found Kenney open and streaking toward the net. Briggs also provided the assist on Kenney’s second goal in the 20th minute.
Quinnipiac struggled to create opportunities on the offensive end the entire way. Providence played a stifling defensive game for 90 minutes and the toughness they showed initially seemed to rattle the Bobcats.
“We were too passive in the first half,” head coach Dave Clarke said after the game. “Second half they reacted… and that reaction was good but we need that reaction from the get-go,”
The third goal came in the 72nd minute. Junior Madison Mandleur took down Briggs inside the goalie box, setting up a penalty kick for Providence senior Kyla Gallagher. Gallagher’s right-side kick went just beyond the reach of Quinnipiac keeper Sofia Lospinoso into the back of the net and was effectively the nail in the coffin.
“The third goal killed any momentum and any chance to get into the game,” Clarke said.
Clarke saw the team’s performance as a good learning experience to improve for the future.
“We had the ball [on Quinnipiac’s side]… and ended up giving a penalty away in like three passes,” Clarke said. “That can’t happen. It’ll be a great teaching experience,”
Both graduate transfer Lily Schnieders and first-year Evelyn Keay made their Quinnipiac debuts in the game. Schnieders made an impact in the second half, playing solid defense and pushing the pace on offense to get the Bobcats many more opportunities than they had in the first half. Graduate Katie Gilligan also returned to the field after missing all of last season.
Clarke said he believes both Schnieders and Gilligan will be important pieces for the Bobcats’ conference title defense.
Quinnipiac will now prepare for another tough non-conference match next Sunday in their home opener against Dartmouth.
