The Quinnipiac men’s soccer team may be eliminated from playoff contention, but that didn’t mean they’d quit during these last few games of the season. In a rematch of their MAAC semi-final game last year, the Bobcats defeated the Niagara Purple Eagles 3-1 on Saturday – their first conference win of the season. This was Quinnipiac’s final home game, and they honored their seniors and fifth-year players before the contest.
Tomas Svecula led the way for the Bobcats, registering two goals in the game. He has now scored five times in the last three games including back-to-back multi-goal games. Head coach Eric Da Costa moved Svecula from winger to striker, and the team has seen the benefits.
“I was more involved in the action,” Svecula said. “I feel like I have more freedom to do really whatever I want to do and shoot as much as I can, and that’s why the goals are coming.”
Early on in the first half, Quinnipiac’s Jason Budhai got behind the defense and sent a shot just wide of the right post, but continued to make plays. He sent multiple crosses into the box, nearly finding Terrance Wilder Jr. a few minutes later for an opportunity that ultimately fell flat, and the game remained scoreless at the end of the first half.
Junior goaltender Matthew Pisani started in net for the Bobcats, his first career start in place of Karl Netzell, and his play helped lead Quinnipiac to victory, recording three saves.
The Bobcats fell behind early in the second half, as midfielder Matheus Cintra dribbled past multiple Quinnipiac defenders before firing the ball into the top left corner past the diving Pisani.
It looked as if the Purple Eagles were going to double their lead, as Felix Kogler, Niagara’s leading goal scorer, took advantage of a Quinnipiac miscue and went one on one with Pisani. Kogler made a move to the inside, and had a wide open net ahead of him before junior defenseman Sander Sonsterud came in at the last second, sliding in front of Kogler to deflect his shot out of bounds, a play that may have turned the tides for the Bobcats.
“Once he got by me I thought that was it, but Sander got there,” Pisani said. “It was a great play by him.”
In the 57th minute, Wilder moved up from his defensive spot through the midfield, and after crossing the center line, passed the ball up the left side to fellow defender Erik Langwagen. From just outside the box, Langwagen crossed the ball past two Purple Eagle defenders, as well as Niagara keeper Jamie Barry, to Svecula, who scored his first goal of the afternoon.
The Bobcats were without Brage Aasen and Francisco Ferreira, their first and third leading scorer coming into the day, allowing increased playing time for sophomore Ramesh Delsouz. Delsouz made the most of his opportunity, and in the 71st minute, Budhai set up Delsouz, who blasted the ball past Barry for his first goal of the year.
Budhai was rewarded for his efforts once again in the 85th minute, as he sent a shot off the crossbar that was corralled by Svecula, who tucked the ball into the right side of the net to give Quinnipiac a late insurance goal and put the game out of reach.
Da Costa highlighted Budhai’s work ethic over the last few seasons and how it has contributed into making him a better all around player.
“He’s a dangerous player,” Da Costa said of Budhai. “Jason has evolved and grown…he’s a real threat as a soccer player.”
The Bobcats final game of the season will take place Wednesday at 7 p.m., as Quinnipiac travels to Fairfield to face a Stags – the team that sit just below the Bobcats in the standings.
