Beizer Picks Up Where She Left Off

Beizer Picks Up Where She Left Off
By Zach Smart

In a world where Division-I recruiting is a dirty, cut-throat business, Quinnipiac goalie Chloe Beizer’s story tells much like a fairy tale.

After a three-year stay at Yale—one that saw her suffer a career-threatening ankle injury–Beizer transferred to Quinnipiac after a one-year hiatus. The transition to a blood-rival school, however, was met with much approval by her former teammates and coaches.

There was no unfinished business. No controversial ego battles with Yale teammates (many of whom Beizer is still very close with), no player vs. coach drama, and certainly no brown-paper bag money that crooked coaches toss under the table like loose change.

None of that— just a new opportunity that’s now resurrected her soccer career. Beizer has returned to the pitch this fall and emerged into a mainstay in net for a Bobcat team that’s off to a scintillating 3-1 start.

“They (Yale teammates and coaches) really were completely understanding about it,” said the 22-year-old Beizer, who earned the shutout during Friday’s 3-0 drubbing of Delaware State.

“They were trying to figure out how they could help me (get back on the field), whether it was going to be taking a semester off and playing at Yale or whether it would be by playing somewhere else.”

Beizer was sidelined for the entire 2006 season. She watched as the driver’s keys were handed to a trio of goalies that combined for 72 saves and a goals against average of 1.33.

Prior to this, Beizer had become an instant lynchpin in the Bulldog defensive unit. She split the shine with Susan Starr during the 2005 campaign, as longtime Yale coach Rudy Meredith implemented a two-starter system.

During her last season at Yale, Beizer registered a 0.75 GAA (second in the Ivy League), a save percentage of .780 (fourth), while recording 32 saves (sixth).

Beizer helped Yale garner some national visibility that year, capturing shutouts in their Ivy League title-clinching win over Brown and blanking of Central Connecticut State in the first-round of the NCAA College Cup. The team concluded the 2005 campaign with a Sweet 16 Tournament bid.

With so many good memories in the rearview, was it tough to fill out a transfer waiver?

“No, they knew from the moment I got hurt that I would probably want to come back and play (elsewhere),” explained Beizer.

“I loved playing for Rudy, he was a really great guy and I had a lot of fun playing for him.”

Beizer even speculates that it was Meredith who called up Quinnipiac coach Dave Clarke and informed him of her decision to transfer, a move that’s pretty unheard of on the recruiting circuit.

According to Beizer, the shift to Quinnipiac and Northeast Conference-tier soccer has been a simple one.

“To be honest, coming here I was a little nervous because I was going to be like a 22-year-old freshman. But the girls have made it a seamless transition, they’ve acclimated me to the school and to the team and so I pretty much owe it to them that I’m able to jump in here and sort of do my thing and work so well with them.”

It’s worked out for the best so far, as Beizer has sported a sublime 0.77 GAA during her first four games. She’s quickly filled the role as a vocal leader on a Bobcat team that features a core of young scoring threats in Amber Sidoti, Susan Donovan and Sarah Lawlor.

“I can’t shut up back there,” said Beizer of her signal-calling duties. “I’ve always played that way, just because it makes my job easier. If I see something, I can stop it before it starts. I’ll look at it just standing back there.”

The acquisition of a high profile transfer—amongst other aspects—has helped inject a revitalized confidence in the Bobcats.

It’s spreading like wildfire.

Though it’s still early, Clarke has shifted his gaze from playoff berth to NEC title and his thoughts resonate in senior leader Kate Ahearn.

“I don’t just want to say that we’re going to make it to the tournament, I want to win the tournament,” said Ahearn at the start of the season.

One date that Beizer’s pegged as eventful on the calendar is October 3^rd, when the Bobcats trek 10 minutes down the Merritt Parkway to face Yale.

Beizer admits the game will have some extra juice for her.

“It’s going to be ridiculous,” she said. “I’ve got a lot of expectations but I’m looking forward to it, it should be fun.”

Bobcats Heading to Jersey to Start Fall 2007 Season

Bobcats Heading to Jersey to Start Fall 2007 Season
By Jeremy Schilling

They’ve gone to the beach. They’ve kept cool in the pool. They’ve practiced. And now the youthful influx that will hopefully guide Quinnipiac University Golf to bigger and better things in 2007, now has a schedule to post on the wall.

According to the tentative schedule (Coach John O’Connor tells WQAQ that “I still hope to get into other events but this might be it for now.”) released on www.quinnipiacbobcats.com, the season begins September 14^th with the 2-day Rutgers University Invitational at the Rutgers University Golf Course in Piscataway, New Jersey.. Having played the course a couple times, I can tell you the players will be challenged on a quality golf course that will be sure to bring out the best in them. That tournament has a 9:00 a.m. start.

Seven days later the Bobcats will head to Hanover, New Hampshire to the Hanover Country Club for the Dartmouth Invitational. The team will look to improve on their 5th place finish in this tournament last season. Play starts at 9:00 a.m. for both days of the tournament.

On October 6th, the team will make the short trip to the Yale Golf Club in New Haven to compete in The McDonald Cup. The Bobcats will most certainly look to improve on their 11^th place finish in 2006. For both days of the competition, the first players will be teeing off at 8:00 a. m.

Five days later the Bobcats will head out to a place where Tiger Woods enjoyed his weeklong visit in 2002, Bethpage State Park in Bethpage, New York, for the Hofstra Invitational. However, unlike to Tiger’s United States Open victory that occurred on the now famous Black Course, the Bobcats and all the other participants will be playing the Red Course. Lasting two days, October 12^th and 13^th, the first tee times occur at 9:00 a. m.

And to wrap up the fall season, the Bobcats will head to Brewster, Mass, for the New England Championship at The Captains Golf Course on October 22^nd for a two-day event that begins both days at 9:00 a.m. Last year, the Bobcats finished 13^th after the final day was wiped out by rain.

If any more events get added, we will pass them along to you, but as of right now it appears that by the time the leaves start falling and Bud Fisher enters his goal inside of the TD Banknorth Sports Center, the Quinnipiac Bobcats Golf team will have completed their fall season.