Mount Hands Bobcats First League Loss

Mount Hands Bobcats First League Loss
By Zach Smart

            If their 9-6 come-from-behind victory over Central Connecticut served as any indication, the Quinnipiac women’s lacrosse team is a second half team.
            On April 5, the Bobcats took on Northeast Conference foe Mount St. Mary’s, as the league’s two undefeated teams engaged in a rock fight for mid-season supremacy.
            Once again, it was a tale of two halves. This time, the Bobcats’ second half surge simply wasn’t enough. The defensive-minded Mountaineers held off a late rally, outlasting Quinnipiac by a score of 9-8 to gain sole possession of first place.
            It was the program’s first home loss since nearly a year ago, when Monmouth handed them a 12-11 overtime loss back on April 7, 2006.
            “We tend to be more of a put-together team in the second half,” explained sophomore middie Tiffany Manzi, who had two goals to help the Bobcats claw back from a five-goal defecit in the second half.
            “We came back with a lot more fire (in the second). Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time (to send the game into overtime).”
            Down 8-4 in a first half that featured a dominant defensive performance by the Mountaineers and goalie Jane Karger (6-for-10 on saves in the first half), the Bobcats outscored the Mount 4-1 in a high-octane second half.
            After the Mount’s Katelyn Catenese ripped a shot past goalkeeper Hannah Nelson, Quinnipiac’s Katy Delagi found the back of the net to jump-start a 3-0 run.
            The junior from New York would conclude this run with a nifty move and shot from the far corner to make it 9-7 with 14:22 remaining. With the shot, Delagi moved up to ninth on the program’s all-time scoring list.
            The Bobcats tacked on another goal 90 seconds later, as Meghan Latonick found a cutting Manzi, who deposited one past Karger and sliced the lead to one.
            The Bobcats, however, were never able to deadlock it, as a stingy defense led by Jacqui Ricca (game-high eight groundballs) stifled several dangerous attacks.
            Ricca instigated her sixth and most important turnover of the game when she stripped midfielder Janelle Lopez during the Bobcats’ free position attempt in the game’s final minute.
            “We’re a team that likes to respond,” explained senior defender and captain Sophia Pantelides of the Bobcats’ comeback-bid. “The first half was really intense. We had some good saves, our defense was playing well, we just needed to finish shots.”
               The Mount came out firing, scoring the game’s first three goals 6:08 into the frame. The Bobcats were quick to answer.
               Nicole Fiore worked an angle, bouncing a shot past Karger on a free-position attempt as the Bobcats concluded a 3-0 surge of their own.
               The Mount re-gained the momentum as a shot from Breana Waraksa with 15:50 remaining fueled a 6-1 surge. 
               What did coach Danie Caro and company tell her players after the frustrating first half?
               “We basically told them, ‘it’s our field to defend. It’s your choice whether you’re going to defend it or not.”’
               The Bobcats were a different team from that moment on.
                A win would have allowed the Bobcats to establish a pair of school records with five consecutive wins and sixth consecutive home wins.
                Pantelides said the team won’t dwell on it.
                “We weren’t playing for any records,” she explained. ”There’s more big games to go. Right now its anyone’s conference.”
                The ‘Cats will look to avenge the loss if the two teams are to meet again in the playoffs. The game might have been a preview of this year’s NEC championship.
                “We got a feel for their style of play and hopefully we’ll be able to read them better (if we meet again),” said Manzi.

Valentine takes home NEC Honor

Valentine takes home NEC Honor 
Ashley Valentine takes home NEC Player of the week
John Chagaris
April 2nd, 2007

HAMDEN - The awards continue to fall in Quinnipiac’s favor as the Northeast Conference has announced sophomore Ashley Valentine was named Northeast Conference Player of the Week, the second Quinnipiac player to be named within the last three weeks: Tiffany Manzi won on April 19th. Valentine secured the honor with two outstanding performances this past weekend against Saint Francis PA and Robert Morris. Against Robert Morris, Valentine tied her career high when she had five points, including four goals. She led the Lady Bobcats with capturing 3 ground balls and causing three turnovers against Robert Morris. Valentine is the sixth Bobcat to earn NEC honors this season; Erin Coffey was named NEC Defensive player of the Week on March 5th, Kelly Bruneau was NEC Rookie of the Week on March 12th, the aforementioned Tiffany Manzi was NEC Player of the Week and Katie Latonic was NEC Rookie of the Week on March 19th, Brittany Hauser was named NEC Rookie of the Week last week.

Just a reminder you can hear the Lady Bobcats next game on Thursday on the Quinnipiac Sports Network on WQAQ. Please follow the link listed on the “Game Broadcast Schedule” page to listen. The pre-game show begins at 3:45, the game starts at 4.

Nelson Magic

Nelson Magic: Hannah Nelson and Ashley Valentine lead Bobcats to 12-7 win
John Chagaris
April 1st, 2007

MOON TOWNSHIP, PA — The weather may have been raining, but it was not dogs that were falling but many Bobcat goals, and on the flip side, goals were being stopped with ease by freshman phenom Hannah Nelson. Quinnipiac defeated Robert Morris 12-7, and in the process Hannah Nelson set the Quinnipiac rookie record for women’s lacrosse by winning her sixth game between the pipes. With the victory Quinnipiac also set two school records: best start in NEC play extending their NEC record to 4-0, and winning its fourth consecutive game.

Just over a minute into the game, Ashley Valetine tallied her 17th goal. Five different Bobcats earned a point before Robert Morris could score, Katy Delagi, Tiffany Manzi, Brittany Hauser and Nicole Flore the other four. Quinnipiac would score 10 times in the first half while Nelson stopped 9 of the 14 shots against her in the first half. Quinnipiac would never trail in this one.

When all was said and done Ashley Valentine scored 4 goals and recorded 5 points, Nicole Fiore had 5 points (2 G 3A) Katy Delagi had 3 points (2 G 1 A) and Meghan Latonic, National Rookie of the week Brittany Hauser, Katie Latonic and Tiffany Manzi all came away with a goal apiece. Quinnipiac improves their record to 6-3, 4-0 in the NEC.

Quinnipiac next hosts Mount St. Mary’s on Thursday at 4 and have the opportunity to break three more Quinnipiac Records, most consecutive wins at home, consecutive wins overall and best start ever in conference play.

You can hear Thursday’s game live on the WQAQ Quinnipiac Sports Network. Follow the link listed on the “Game Broadcast Page” to listen.

Lady Bobcat picks up National Lacrosse Honor

Lady bobcat picks up National Lacrosse Honor 

Freshman Hauser named National Rookie of the Week

John Chagaris

March 28, 2007

 

HAMDEN, CT – After losing two tough road games the Bobcats answered in style with two key wins, one against CCSU and one again LIU, coach Caro needed players to step up, and Freshman Brittany Hauser was one of the ones who stepped it up. Brittany Hauser has earned National Rookie of the Week honors from Womenslacrosse.com, which is the second such rookie award for Hauser this week. Hauser had previously earned NEC Rookie of the Week honors.

 

Caro needed her players to step up and it was actually Hauser’s offense that helped the Bobcats on a two game winning streak, as she was involved on both game winning situations, and on the defensive side Hauser held her direct opponent scoreless in both games while gaining six draw controls and two ground balls. Hauser’s defense helped as Quinnipiac only allowed one second half goal against CCSU last Friday.

 

During her game during the Bobcats NEC home opener against LIU, Hauser had a career high three assists including two key assists feeding Tiffany Manzi and Jannelle Lopez. Hauser also scored a goal to set another career high with four points.

 

The women’s lacrosse team is on a road trip this weekend, traveling to Saint Francis PA and Robert Morris.

Bobcats Claws are out; Quinnipiac Women’s Lax over CCSU 9-6

Bobcats Claws are out; Quinnipiac Women’s Lax over CCSU 9-6

John Chagaris

March 23, 2007

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - The dates have changed, the venue has changed, the opponent has changed, and so has the play of the Quinnipiac Women’s Lacrosse team, as the Quinnipiac Bobcats traveled to face the Blue Devils of Central Conn. State University. Just 5 days removed from losing 16-3 against Harvard the Bobcats had a chip on their shoulder and it all began with the outstanding goalkeeping of Hannah Nelson and the Quinnipiac defense. After Sunday’s loss against Harvard Head Coach Danie Caro said “We just didn’t come to play today. We’re going to need to figure out what improvements need to be made before Friday’s game.” Those improvements came from the defense.

The heart and soul of a team comes from the goalie, Caro needed Freshman Redshirt Hannah Nelson to step up and put the Harvard game behind her, and she did just that., making six saves and only allowing one goal in the second half.

“Hannah Nelson came up big for us with some key saves in the second half,” said head coach Danie Caro.

Quinnipiac entered the second half down 5-3 and credit can be given to assistant coach Christy Smallman who fired up the team during halftime.

“Issues of coming out slow in the first half were not issued that had to deal with skill at all,” said Coach Smallman, “They had to do with getting fired up, playing with heart and giving 110 percent. We really needed to light the fire in the second half.”

The Bobcats responded, Tiffany Mansi scored just over two minutes into the half and Nicole Fiore tied the game on her tenth goal of the season with 20:28 to go in the game, the goal was assisted by birthday girl Katie Latonick who scored her first goal of the season to round up the 4-0 run giving Quinnipiac a 7-5 lead, a lead they would not give up.

Tiffany Mansi had four points and Nicole Fiore netted a hat trick as the Women collect their first NEC win of the season. The Bobcats will look to start their NEC Season 2-0 as they take on LIU Sunday at noon at home.