It was a true battle today as two top teams in the MAAC went at it at the Soccer and Lacrosse Stadium in Hamden, Connecticut on a beautiful fall day. This physical matchup between the fifth-seeded Canisius Golden Griffins and the third-seeded Quinnipiac Bobcats was a good one, with both teams looking to get back into the win column.
Olivia Jarvis returned to action today for the first time since September 27th. She was out due to a lower-body injury that kept her sidelined for two weeks. She had two saves and helped secure the clean sheet, which contributed to the Bobcats’ 2-0 win.
Coach Dave Clarke says, although it is “harsh” on graduate goalkeeper Gwen Hoyt, it is “right for the team” to have Jarvis starting again.
To start the game, the Bobcats got off to an early lead thanks to Morgan Cupo as she finished off a corner kick. Madison Alves assisted Cupo, putting her in a position to beat Canisius goalkeeper Chloe Tseros, putting the Bobcats up 1-0 in the eighth minute.
In the 22nd minute, the Golden Griffins launched a dangerous attack, with a beautiful through-ball to senior Mia Iacona, setting up a shot that went just wide of the goal. The score remained 1-0 with Quinnipiac in the lead.
Both squads got crosses into the box in the last few minutes before halftime, but neither team could convert, keeping the score at 1-0 Bobcats at the half. Despite the score, Canisius applied more consistent pressure during the first half, as they beat the Bobcats with five shots to Quinnipiac’s two.
Head Coach Dave Clarke says the team has to do a better job “winning the rebound” on second-chance attempts to help improve their offense inside the box. “It is hard to work on in practice,” Clarke says, but it is “the focus” of the next phase of training.
To start the second half, Morgan Cupo created a breakaway, but she got taken out inside the box; however, no foul was called. A few minutes later, a cross into the box sets up Addyson Earl for a shot, but she boots it over the net.
Madison Alves, when asked about the officiating, says that they can only “control what we can control,” and not let the calls “get to our emotions.”
In an attempt to try and tie up the game, the Golden Griffins led an attack that started with a breakaway by Skylar Cornell, but the shot went wide right. Canisius followed with a free kick just outside the box, but the shot hit the left post, which kept the score at 1-0 Quinnipiac.
In the 78th minute, the Bobcats added to their lead with another goal by Morgan Cupo, with assists from both Addyson Earl and Märta Ankarcrona. Cupo got her second of the afternoon and seventh on the season, giving the Bobcats the 2-0 lead.
The Bobcats finished with solid defense, earning the clean sheet, as they earned the 2-0 win. It was a very physical game, as there were 19 combined fouls and six combined yellow cards. This win was head coach Dave Clarke’s 250th win of his collegiate career.
Cupo said during her time here, Clarke has “really helped” her “develop as a player” and he “works so hard with everything he does behind the scenes.”
The Bobcats will look to use this momentum in their next game next Saturday, where they will travel to Sacred Heart to take on the number one seed in the MAAC, whereas the Golden Griffins head back to Buffalo to take on Mount Saint Mary’s next Wednesday.
