Women's Soccer 2010 Season Review
11/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
HAMDEN, Conn. - The Quinnipiac women's soccer team recently
wrapped-up the 2010 season with a 2-2 draw against Saint Francis
(Pa.) in the first round of the Northeast Conference Tournament on
Nov. 5. The Bobcats ended the season at 5-2-3 in conference play
and with an overall record of 7-7-4.
Quinnipiac outscored its opponents 25-22 on the season, while
tallying 22 assists on the year. For the fifth consecutive season,
the Bobcats were able to end the year with an overall record at or
above .500.
"In some ways it was a very successful season," said Head Coach
Dave Clarke. "If you look at how we started the season, the little
blip on the Pennsylvania trip, and where we were facing elimination
from the NECs, but then to turn around, rebound and make the
playoffs, it's satisfying."
Despite an 0-4 start, the team was able to make an impressive
comeback with a five-game unbeaten streak. On Sept. 17, the Bobcats
beat Dartmouth, 3-1, as junior forward Furtuna Velaj (Stamford,
Conn.) compiled her fourth-career hat trick in Quinnipiac's first
win of the season. The victory was followed with another Quinnipiac
win against Atlantic-10 foe Rhode Island, 1-0, at the Quinnipiac
Soccer Field.
The Bobcats began conference play with a 4-2 victory over Central
Connecticut State on Sept. 26. The Bobcats came back from a 2-1
deficit for the win, as four different Quinnipiac players scored.
The team went on to tie its next two games on the road at Wagner
and Regular Season Champions Long Island University.
Quinnipiac went 1-1 in its next two home games, with a 2-1 loss to
Monmouth and a 2-1 win against Mount St. Mary's. The team suffered
a 3-0 loss in its next match at Saint Francis (Pa.) on Friday, Oct.
15. Saint Francis went on to win the NEC Tournament before losing,
1-0 in overtime, against Ohio State, in the first round of the NCAA
Tournament.
Following the defeat, the Bobcats came back, winning three of its
final four conference matches of the season, to clinch a playoff
berth for the second consecutive season. In their last outing of
the regular season, the Bobcats shut-out Fairleigh Dickinson, 6-0,
as the team celebrated Senior Day on Sunday, Oct. 31. Six players
scored in the victory, five of which scored in the first 45 minutes
of play.
The women went on to tie, 1-1, Saint Francis (Pa.) in the first
round of the NEC Tournament. Saint Francis advanced to the
Championship game with a 3-1 advantage in penalty kicks.
"I think that the manner in which we played in the semi-final, and
the potential and the ability of the team, showed that the NEC was
there to win," said Clarke. "So in some ways we should be
disappointed that we didn't make the final, but then that becomes
the goal and objective for next year. Now we know what it takes to
win it. I think the team has already focused on not only getting to
the NEC's, but winning it."
Velaj was selected to the Northeast Conference All-Conference
first team, her third selection in as many years, while senior
Meagan McLoughlin (Rocky Hill, Conn.) and sophomore Jillian
Strassner (Avon, Conn.) were named to the All-NEC Second Team. In
addition, seniors Kyla Miles (Newtown, Conn.) and Jen Hartman
(Cranston, R.I.) were named to NEC All-Tournament Team.
Velaj led the Bobcats with 19 points, seven goals and five assists
on the year. In addition, Strassner compiled 12 points, five goals
and two assists, while McLoughlin scored three goals and added two
assists on the season.
