Season Ends Disappointingly for Women’s Soccer

Season Ends Disappointingly for Women’s Soccer
By TJ Buzzeo

The Bobcats entered the last weekend of the regular needing a couple of wins and a bunch of help from their NEC counterparts to move on to the NEC playoffs. However, standing in their way were the Sacred Heart Pioneers and the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights.

On Friday, November 2nd Quinnipiac made the short trip down to Fairfield, CT to battle the Pioneers and keep their postseason dreams alive. The Bobcats fell behind early when Sacred Heart’s Allison Rojas put a shot in the back of the net 11 minutes into the contest. After the goal, Chloe Beizer and the Bobcat defense settled down and shut out Sacred Heart the rest of the way.

Unfortunately for Quinnipiac their offensive woes continued as they were unable to score a goal for the sixth consecutive game. Amber Sidoti led the Bobcat attack with three shots and two on goal however, none of her attempts were able to get by Meghan Reichelt, the Pioneers goaltender.

The Bobcats were out shot 15-11 and were also outdone in corner kicks with the Pioneers accumulating a 5-2 advantage. Quinnipiac played a very sloppy game committing 21 fouls to just ten by Sacred Heart. The win improved the Pioneers record to 3-11-4, and 3-2-3 in the NEC and with another win on Sunday propelled them into the playoffs. The loss dropped the Bobcats out of the postseason as their record worsened to 9-6-2, and 2-4-2 in NEC play.

On Sunday, October 4th the Bobcats hoped to end their season on a high note and pick up a win to end their season. The Bobcats were in good shape after a scoreless first half against Fairleigh Dickinson. However the Knights offense exploded in the second half scoring three goals and putting the game out of reach for Quinnipiac. Michelle DeCourcey started the scoring in the 68th minute when she found the back of the net and then teammate Emma Yamada scored the winning goal in the 77th minute of the game. Quinnipiac senior Mal Curran scored the first Bobcat goal in six games in the 86th minute of the game, cutting the Knight lead to one goal. Fairleigh Dickinson scored an insurance goal in the final minute of the game when Tonya Hipsman scored.

The final game of the season ended poorly for goaltender Chloe Beizer. Beizer played great all season posting seven shutouts along the way and only gave up 14 goals in 18 games. In the final game against Fairleigh Dickinson she was pulled in the 85th minute after giving up two goals which was the most she gave up in a game all year (she has given up two goals in four games this season).

The Bobcat offense which started off the season on fire was nowhere to be found once NEC play started and was one of the bigger reasons for the Bobcats late season drought. Before NEC play the Bobcats were 7-2-0 and looked well on their way to the NEC tournament. During those nine games the Bobcats scored 22 goals an average of 2.44 goals a game. After the NEC play started the offense appeared to go into hiding scoring six goals in their final nine games (five of which came in the first two) leading to an average of .67 goals a game. They also went on a streak of six games with out scoring a single goal. They finished with a 2-5-2 record in the NEC which was good for ninth (out of ten teams).

Although the season ended on a down note the team finished with a winning record for the second straight season. Also, they have many players returning with only seven seniors leaving. So, fans could expect big things to come from the Bobcats in 2008.

Scoring Woes Still Plague Bobcats

Scoring Woes Still Plague Bobcats
By TJ Buzzeo

The women’s soccer team at Quinnipiac University came into their games last weekend without scoring a goal in their last three games; the great offense from the beginning of the season has been nowhere to be seen. Entering this weekend, Coach Clarke’s crew was hoping that a couple of home games would be what the doctor ordered. However, home just added to the illness. They played through a scoreless battle with Wagner, and were shutout 1-0 against Long Island.

A struggling Wagner team came to Quinnipiac on Friday the 26th of October looking to kick the Bobcats while they were down. Quinnipiac’s offense, led by Kate Lissfelt and Amber Sidoti, did almost everything it could to not allow this to happen as they out-shot the Seahawks 28-6 (8-1 shots on goal), and had a 9-0 corner kick advantage. However, Wagner netminder Sam Schueschner prevented the Bobcats from putting any of those shots in the back of the net. Bobcats goaltender Chloe Beizer did her part as she blanked Wagner for her seventh shutout of the season. Although the Bobcats did not score a goal or win the game, they did end their losing skid at two, and with their last home game of the season coming up, things were not looking too bad in the Bobcats world.

On Sunday the 28th, the Bobcats welcomed Long Island University to Hamden for the team’s final home game of the season. Before the game the Bobcats honored the seven seniors on the team who were playing in their final game at Bobcat Field. The scoring drought of the Bobcats continued as they played their fifth straight game without a goal. Unfortunately for the Bobcats, they would not be able to escape this game with a tie when Caitlin Meadows of the Blackbirds was able to beat Beizer to the right corner of the goal. The Blackbirds out-shot the Bobcats 11-5 (4-2 shots on goal), and the teams tied with three corner kicks apiece.

The tie and loss over the weekend dropped Quinnipiac’s record to 9-5-2 (2-3-2). The Bobcats are currently 7th in the NEC standings, which means if the 4 team NEC Tournament started tomorrow they would not make it. However, the tournament does not start tomorrow and the Bobcats still have a fighting shot to qualify. In order for the Bobcats to make it they need to win both of their games this weekend and receive a bunch of help to jump past at least three other teams. The Bobcats will play their final two games against Sacred Heart in Fairfield, CT on Friday, November 2nd and Farleigh Dickinson in Teaneck, New Jersey on Sunday, November 4th.

Scoring troubles plague Bobcats

Scoring troubles plague Bobcats
By TJ Buzzeo

After going ten straight games scoring at least one goal, the Quinnipiac Women’s Soccer team has failed to score a goal in its last three games. In those three games the Bobcats are 0-2-1, and head coach Dave Clarke has only one place to look, his usually potent offense.

The Bobcats scoring woes could not have come at a worse time for the team as they are now in NEC play. Dropping both of their games this past weekend dropped the Bobcats from second in the conference down to sixth.

The one bright spot over the past three games has been the excellent play of goal-tender Chloe Beizer. Beizer has allowed only two goals in the past three games, each coming in the Bobcats losses. Beizer has nine saves in the three games, four against St.Francis (PA), one against Mount St. Mary’s, and four in the defeat to Monmouth. Beizer’s great play has kept the game within reach for the Bobcats, but the offense has not been able to live up to its part of the bargain.

Last Friday, the Bobcats traveled down to Emmitsburg, Maryland to play Mount St. Mary’s. The Bobcats seemed to be in control of the game out shooting their opponents 8-6 and had a 4-1 corner kick advantage. However The Mount led in the one category that counts the most, goals, outscoring the Bobcats 1-0. The only goal of the game came in the 22nd minute when Colleen Regan, put one in the back of the net.

The Bobcats looked to turn the page when they went to West Long Beach, New Jersey to take on the Hawks from Monmouth, the first place team in the conference. Unfortunately for Quinnipiac the Hawks played like the team leading the conference. They out shot the Bobcats 13-3, had four more shots on goal (5-1), and had the advantage on corner kicks 5-1.

The one offensive bright spot for the Bobcats over this past weekend has been Amber Sidoti. Sidoti had six shots in the two games, including all three in the game against Monmouth.

Despite the offensive slump the Bobcats have been in the past several games, they still sit a top the NEC in many offensive categories including points, goals and assists. They are second in the NEC in shots and corner kicks (Monmouth leads both categories). So, the Bobcats fortunes should be turning soon.

The Bobcats return home this week with two NEC games this weekend with the Wagner Seahawks on Friday the 26th, and the Long Island Blackbirds on Sunday the 28th.

Beizer Shuts Out NEC Opponents

Beizer Shuts Out NEC Opponents
By TJ Buzzeo

Chloe Beizer has been very good in goal for the Bobcats this season, and nothing changed after this past weekend, with two dominating performances for Beizer, shutting out Robert Morris on Friday October 12, and repeated the performance on Sunday October 14 against St. Francis (PA).

When the 4-6-2 Robert Morris Colonials came to Hamden, they had thoughts of turning their season around, however Beizer and the Bobcats had other ideas. The scoring started in the 21st minute of the game when Quinnipiac’s Sarah Lawlor got the rebound off of a Meagan McLoughlin shot and put it in the back of the net. Robert Morris kept the deficit to one going into the half. The Bobcats put the game on ice scoring twice early in the second half. The first goal of the half was scored by Leisl Lissfelt in the 56th minute. Lawlor scored her second goal of the game in the 62nd minute putting the game out of reach for the Colonials. Quinnipiac’s Susan Donovan assisted on both second half goals. Beizer stopped the only two shots on goal on route to her fifth shut out of the season.

The Bobcats would have liked to save a goal or two for their game against St. Francis (PA) as neither team was able to score. The Bobcats had a couple chances in the second half to put one between the pipes, but were unable to capitalize due to the very stingy defense of the Red Flash. Beizer stopped four shots to keep St. Francis (PA) scoreless, but was matched save for save with the Red Flash’s Jessica Boyer, who had six saves. For Beizer that was her sixth save of the season and second in as many games. Boyer was able to shut out the Bobcats for just the second time all season, the first coming in a season opening loss to Lehigh. The Bobcats were unable to outshoot the Red Flash 16-11, which includes a dominating 7-3 second half advantage. They were also able to get the advantage with the corner kicks 6-5.

Sarah Lawlor’s two goal game against Robert Morris earned her Brine/NEC Rookie of the Week. Lawlor leads the NEC in assists (7), goals (7), shots (62) and points (21). It is the second week Lawlor has been named Rookie of the Week (9/4/07).

Beizer had another dominating week, recording six saves and two shutouts. The two shutouts were not able to break the tie between her and Felicia Amaral of Long Island University (6) who also, shut out two opponents this past weekend.

The Bobcats continue to receive regional attention as they are now ranked 11th on soccerbuzz.com’s Northeast regional rankings, moving up from 12th. Quinnipiac is also currently second in the NEC standings. The Bobcats hope to move up in the rankings with two NEC games this weekend. On Friday October 19th they travel to Emmitsburg, MD to play Mount St. Mary’s who is 3-10 (1-3) on the season. The big game for NEC women’s soccer comes on Sunday October 21st when the Bobcats face Monmouth in West Long Branch, NJ where the top two teams in the NEC will face off.

Win Streak Snapped By Cross-town Rivals

Win Streak Snapped By Cross-town Rivals
By TJ Buzzeo

After winning a very impressive seven games in a row, the Women’s soccer team could not pick up their eighth straight victory. The loss came against Yale last Wednesday, but the Bobcats were able to right the ship quickly winning their first NEC game against Central Connecticut.

Kate Macauley of Yale gave the Bulldogs the lead in the 22nd minute of play and then scored the eventual game winning goal in the 61st minute, extending Yale’s lead to two. The Bobcats tried to make a comeback late in the game, but it fell just short. In the 86th minute of the game Sarah Lawlor assisted Meagan McLoughlin with her second goal of the season. The shot went through the lower left corner of the net, but that’s all that Quinnipiac was able to manage against the Bulldogs as they lost the game 2-1. The outcome could have differed if Quinnipiac’s Justine Lombardi was able to connect on her shot in the first minute of the second half, however she just missed and the ball hit off the crossbar.

Former Yale, now Quinnipiac goal-tender Chloe Beizer played well making six saves against her former team. The Bulldogs out shot the Bobcats 19-9, only the second time Quinnipiac failed to have more shots than their opponent. The only other time this season the Bobcats have been out shot was when they beat Providence 3-0 on September 16.

Following the loss the Bobcats wanted to get back to their winning ways, and going to New Britain to play the 3-5-1 Central Connecticut Blue Devils, was just what the doctor ordered.

Central’s Rachel Caneen got the Blue Devils on the board first in the ninth minute of play with her third goal of the season. Lawlor was assisted by Amanda Bilas to tie the game in the 26th minute of play. In the 59th minute the Bobcats took the lead when McLoughlin scored her third goal of the season and second in as many games. Lawlor and Lauren Peacock assisted on McLoughlin’s goal.

Beizer played great yet again with another six save game and the Bobcats got back to their offensive ways, with 17 shots to Central’s 13.

Lauren Peacock was named the Eli’s/Quinnipiac Female Athlete of the Month for her outstanding play. Graciano Brito of the men’s soccer team was named the Male Athlete of the Month. Also, in a rarity this is the first week since the week of September 10th that a women’s soccer player was not named either Brine/NEC Player of the Week or Brine/NEC Rookie of the Week.

The Bobcats return to action with a pair of NEC opponents. They start out on Friday October 12, when Robert Morris comes to Bobcat field, and then they wrap up the week on Sunday October 14, when St. Francis (PA) comes to Hamden.

Bobcats Keep Rolling, Win Streak Now at 7

Bobcats Keep Rolling
Win Streak Now at 7
By TJ Buzzeo

After five consecutive victories a pair of games against 2-7 opponents would be looked past too the battle of New Haven with a match up against the Yale Bulldogs. However, Head Coach Dave Clarke and his Bobcat team had other ideas.

On Friday the 28^th Iona came to Hamden playing in the 20^th Anniversary game of Women’s Soccer here at Quinnipiac. After Justine Lombardi set up Freshmen Lauren Peacock with a quick goal less than five minutes into the game, the Bobcats became disgruntled and looked confused for the rest of the first half. However, Iona was not able to capitalize on any opportunities that developed and went into the locker room trailing Quinnipiac, 1-0.

The Bobcats pulled things together for the second half and put the game away early scoring two goals within a minute of each other. The first goal came in the 57^th minute of the game and was off of the foot of Sarah Lawlor on an unassisted attempt. Johanne Walleck put the game on ice just 23 seconds later netting in a cross from Lawlor. Goalie Chloe Beizer played well, again shutting out the Gaels, though she did not make a save.

On the last day of September the Crusaders of Holy Cross came to Bobcat Field with plans of snapping the Bobcats six game winning streak. Peacock linked up with Lombardi in the seventh minute of the game, for Lombardi’s first goal of the season. After that Holy Cross battled hard to get into the game, but Beizer and the rest of the Bobcat defense would have none of it, going into the half 1-0 in favor of Quinnipiac.

In the 66^th minute Peacock netted her team leading 6^th goal of the season, assisted by Amber Sidoti and Brittany Lockwood.The two goals were more than enough for the Bobcats to pick up their seventh straight victory.

In a rarity the NEC did not give a Quinnipiac player NEC player of the week honors, just the second time in the first five weeks of the season (Susan Donavon 9/4, 9/24, and Sidoti 9/17). However, Peacock was awarded NEC Rookie of the week honors this past week the second Bobcat to win this award this season (Sarah Lawlor 9/4).

Beizer’s back to back shutouts this season bring her shutout total now to five, which puts her first in the NEC. After a great week, Lauren Peacock now leads the NEC in points (15) and goals (6), and she is also tied in third in the NEC with assists (3). Lawlor is third in the NEC in points (13), tied in fourth with goals (4) and leads the NEC with 5 assists. Susan Donavon is having another great season tied with Lawlor with goals and is tied with Peacock with assists, which puts her fourth in the NEC with points (4 goals, 3 assists).

The Bobcats go for number eight against the Yale Bulldogs, Wednesday night in nearby New Haven. The start of NEC play begins this Sunday the seventh of October, when Quinnipiac travels to New Britain, CT., to play the Central Connecticut Blue Devils.

5 In a Row for Women’s Soccer

5 In a Row for Women’s Soccer
By TJ Buzzeo

The Quinnipiac Bobcats have now improved their record to 5-1 with an impressing 5-2 victory over the Siena College Saints last Sunday.

After not playing in a week Quinnipiac came out of the gate slowly giving up the lead within the first two minutes of the game. Siena’s Susie Blaisdell set up teammate Tabitha Tice with a header which put the Saints in the lead 1-0. In the 11th minute of the game the Bobcats got their acts together, when Justine Lombardi set up Lauren Peacock’s fourth goal of the season and eliminated Siena’s lead.

With the score tied at one goal apiece Quinnipiac’s Irish duo of Susan Donovan and Sarah Lawlor took over the rest of the game. In the 17th minute Donovan gave the Bobcats a one goal lead, kicking in a bouncing ball that Siena goalie Patti Carroll could not get a hold of. Not to be outdone, Lawlor extended the lead to two not even a minute later. The score remained at 3-1 going into the halftime break. The second half was very similar to the first. Donovan set up Lawlor for her second goal of the game in the 61st minute of play forcing the score to 4-1. Donovan ended the Bobcats scoring with her second goal of the game coming just two minutes after Lawlor’s.

Susie Blaisdell added Siena’s second goal of the game in the 68th minute of the game, cutting the deficit to three, but were unable to get anything else as the Quinnipiac defense shut any comeback try down.

When asked if there may be a friendly rivalry between Donovan and Lawlor, both laughed and said it is more with their American teammates during practice, and as long as the Bobcats win they are happy.

Chloe Beizer had another good game between the pipes, stopping five of seven shots on goal. The first Siena goal which came 1:17 in the game broke her streak of shutouts at three.

The Bobcats will return to action on Friday the 28th when they take on Iona in their 20th anniversary celebration game and then again on Sunday the 30th when they play Holy Cross. Both games will be played at Quinnipiac.

Streak Remains Alive

Streak Remains Alive
By TJ Buzzeo

After dropping their first game of the season to Lehigh, the Quinnipiac Women’s Soccer team has went on a tear winning four straight games, outscoring their opponents 11-1 during that stretch. This past week they picked up the last two wins of their streak, beating Delaware State and Providence.

On Friday, September 14 the Hornets of Delaware State University came up to Hamden looking for their second win of the year. The Bobcats shut the door on the Hornets quickly scoring all three of their goals within the first twenty minutes of play. Susan Donavon started things off scoring a goal in the fifth minute of play, her second of the season. Meagan McLoughlin extended the lead to two with her goal less than five minutes after Donavon’s. Amber Sidoti added her first goal of the season in the 17th minute of the game to put it on ice. Both Justine Lombardi and Sarah Lawlor assisted Sidoti on her goal. Goaltender Chloe Beizer had a very slow day making the stop on the only opportunity Delaware State gave her.

The Bobcats traveled to Providence to play the Friars and hoped to keep their winning ways going. Lauren Peacock began the Quinnipiac scoring with a goal in the 34th minute of the game. Going into the half, one would have had to give the Friars a chance, unfortunately for them Amber Sidoti was playing. Sidoti scored two goals in the second half, putting the game out of reach for Providence.Chloe Beizer played great again making five saves and racking up her third straight shut out of the season.

Sidoti received NEC Player of the Week honors for her excellent play. She recorded three goals in the two Quinnipiac victories. She is tied in the team lead for goals (3) and is second in points (6) to Lauren Peacock (7).

The Bobcats will go for five straight on Sunday, September 23, when the Saints of Siena College will come to Hamden.

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.”