Quinnipiac women’s soccer held on to defeat No. 6 Rider by a score of 1-0 to punch their third straight ticket to the MAAC championship game, where they will look to capture their second title in as many seasons.

Quinnipiac had been on a roll offensively throughout the 2023 campaign, outscoring its conference opponents 32-6 in the regular season. However, the team needed just one goal from their top scorer to secure their championship appearance.

Senior forward Courtney Chochol’s penalty kick goal in the 46th minute proved to be the difference maker in the highly contested affair. Chochol was named to the 2023 All-MAAC First Team and was also awarded with the MAAC’s Golden Boot. 

From the moment the game kicked off, the energy from the Bobcats was off the charts. It was just 46 degrees at the time of kickoff, but the home team came out on fire, forcing 14 shots to Rider’s six.

The fans were out in full force for both teams, as the game displayed one of the biggest fan turnouts of the season. This hit home, especially for players like senior goalkeeper Sofia Lospinoso and sophomore midfielder Madison Alves.

“Growing up it’s always been us two,” Lospinoso said about her mother being in attendance. “She’s kind of like my purpose, she’s my biggest fan.”

Alves felt a similar way about seeing her family, who traveled from Cranston, Rhode Island, to cheer her on from the stands.

“It means everything. Family takes a huge part in my whole life,” Alves said. “It really does mean so much to see their support, and I know they’re going to be here throughout my journey. Just to see them in the stands means the most.”

Alves was everywhere in the midfield throughout the game, running through the ball as well as opposing defenders. She played a physical, but fair style of soccer. A style that she believes she picked up coming from her home state.

“I think one word to describe Rhode Island is grit,” Alves said.

From the jump, the Bobcats poured the pressure on the visiting Broncs, who posted a 7-9-2 record during the regular season. In the first half alone, the Bobcats outshot the visitors 6-1 and were looking to jump out ahead to set the tone.

In the 16th minute, graduate forward Lily Schnieders had a golden opportunity to put the Bobcats ahead. A pinpoint cross from junior defender Madison Mandleur, who was also selected to the All-MAAC First Team, found Schnieders’ forehead, but the ball bounced firmly off the crossbar.  

The two teams would each be held scoreless at 0-0 going into the halftime break, but the momentum was clearly swinging in favor of the Bobcats. The close nature of the game didn’t phase head coach Dave Clarke.

“We work on these scenarios,” said Clarke, who won this year’s MAAC Coach of the Year award. “You do that all the time, constantly throughout the season…we know coming in here that we’re going to have to manage the game at some points.”

Just one minute into the second half, Rider’s junior midfielder Amanda Mendez committed a costly penalty inside the box. The team selected Chochol, their leading point scorer throughout the season, to take an important penalty shot. Chochol calmly approached the ball and buried it in the bottom right corner to give her team the 1-0 advantage.

“We prepare all year playing one up or one down,” said Chochol, who notched her eighth goal of the season.

The Bobcats locked up defensively for the rest of the game, as they secured the 1-0 win as well as a MAAC championship berth. The back line allowed Lospinoso to face just two shots on goal all game.

“It feels good. We’ve been working all year for this, and now we’re just one win away,” Chochol said. 

The win over Rider felt especially good for Clarke, who believes his team wasn’t given a fair shake for this chance.

“Truthfully I think they were written off a little bit,” Clarke said. “(The fact) that it was one player who dictated who the team was…We’re not relying on anybody.”

The Bobcats will be intently watching together to see who they will play in their final conference game of the season.

“It’s nice knowing we can just sit back and watch them battle it out tonight,” Chochol added.

The Bobcats will face the No. 2 Fairfield Stags, who took down No. 4 Mount St. Mary’s in the adjacent semi-final game, in the championship match on Sunday, Nov. 5 at noon.