HAMDEN, Conn – In 2022, Quinnipiac was on top of the collegiate soccer world. They did lose a hard-fought double overtime game in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

However, many thought they were well-positioned to take another MAAC title and run it back. 

But they didn’t. 

The Bobcats had the second-fewest points on the MAAC table in 2023, likely one of the worst collapses in Quinnipiac sports history.

Luckily for Quinnipiac, it only took two new teams added to the MAAC and one calendar year to get back in the postseason mix.

To do that, the Bobcats had to win their last three games of the season after being on a four-game losing streak. 

With the odds stacked against them, Quinnipiac ran the gauntlet and beat it, the last obstacle being a physical, hungry Fairfield team that was also vying for that coveted playoff spot.

The first half was pretty quiet. There were some solid chances for each team, but neither team was setting up a consistent offense. 

There was a lot of back-and-forth counterplay, which made for a chippy game in the midfield. An underrated standout from this phase would have to be junior goalkeeper, Karl Netzell.

“Karl made a couple saves in the first half that should be routine for a goalkeeper, but they’re difficult,” said head coach Eric Da Costa, “The sun’s in your eyes and the wind’s at the opposition’s back, you have to make the save when you’re called upon.”

In the second half, that’s when the fireworks really began. A gorgeous through ball from Fairfield was chipped in by Thomas Drillen, giving the Stags some breathing room. After that goal, Quinnipiac looked sluggish and out of it, but not for long. 

In the 58th minute first-year midfielder Sivert Ryssdalsnes was knocked down after jumping up for a ball that bounced to him after the corner kick. 

Then in the 64th minute, a Fairfield defender had a handball in the box. Coach Da Costa was far from happy with the missed calls.

“We don’t control what the referees do,” said Da Costa, “We could have blamed it on this and blamed it on that, and lost our composure, but our guys didn’t do that. They allowed me to do it, and they went out and won the game for us.”

The guys ended up doing just that. With a fire lit under them, the Bobcats struck back. First-year forward Andrew Monteserin, whose first collegiate goal was a game-winner against Niagara in the prior game, put the first one in against Fairfield in the 73rd minute. 

But then they just kept on coming. 

First-year midfielder Fredrik Moen put in his goal in the 77th minute, and Monteserin finished his day with a brace in the 79th. 

Similarly to the game against Merrimack one week ago, once the floodgates were opened, Fairfield got swept from under their feet. 

Ryssdalsnes had some high praise for his fellow first years.

“I think it’s just Drew’s super calm, so when he gets in the game, he’s always focused, always there, always ready to go,” said Ryssdalsnes, “Freddie is just a very good football player. He’s very fast, very good on the ball. I think it just comes natural to him.”

The theme of perseverance has stuck with the Quinnipiac men’s soccer team this year, and from where I’m sitting they seem far from done. While their opening playoff match isn’t set yet, Coach Da Costa has spared no amount of faith in his team.

“We’re playing well at the right time, we’re fighting, we’re resilient at the right time, and we’ve been playing Playoff soccer for three weeks now,” said Da Costa, “We’ll find a way to keep surviving and keep pushing forward.”