Women's Soccer Opens 2014 Season at Maine on Friday, Aug. 22
8/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Quinnipiac University (0-0-0, 0-0-0 MAAC) at
Maine (0-0-0, 0-0-0 AE)
Friday, Aug. 22, 2014 • 4:00 PM
Alumni Field • Orono, Maine
All-Time Series vs. Maine (DI): 2-0 (2-0)
Last Meeting: 2000 • W, 2-0 (Home)
- Quinnipiac Game Notes as a PDF
- Maine Game Preview
- Live Video: GoBlackBears.com
- Live Stats: GoBlackBears.com
THE 2014 OPENER
The Quinnipiac University women's soccer team (0-0-0, 0-0-0 MAAC) opens its 2014 campaign on Friday, August 22, 2014 at the University of Maine (0-0-0, 0-0-0 AE). The first game of the season for both teams marks the third game in the all-time series, with all the action coming live at 4 p.m. from Alumni Field in Orono, Maine.
ALL-TIME AGAINST MAINE
The Bobcats own a perfect 2-0 record against the Black Bears after defeating Maine in 1999 and 2000. Quinnipiac claimed a 1-0 victory up in Orono in 1999 and followed with a 2-0 triumph at the QU Soccer Field a year later.
SCOUTING THE BLACK BEARS
Maine is coming off a strong season where the Black Bears came within a few penalty kicks of winning the America East Conference Tournament. Maine went toe-to-toe with Stony Brook in the championship game but fell short in PK's to conclude its season with a 9-5-5 record. The Black Bears return its top three scorers from 2013 – juniors Eve L'Abbe and Charlene Achille and senior Jordan Pellerin. L'Abbe led the team with five goals and three assist for a total of eight points. Maine also returns its goalkeeper from last year, as Lauren Swant is back for her junior season. She posted a .870 goals against average and a 0.800 save percentage a year ago.
THE MAAC PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
The Quinnipiac University women's soccer team was tabbed seventh in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced by the league office on Tuesday, July 29, 2014. The Bobcats return 19 student-athletes from last year's squad, each with the same goal in mind of winning the 2014 MAAC Championship.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Monmouth (118)
2. Fairfield (115)
3. Siena (83)
4. Marist (80)
T5. Iona (76)
T5. Rider (76)
7. Quinnipiac (57)
8. Niagara (46)
T9. Canisius (32)
T9. Manhattan (32)
11. Saint Peter's (13)
THE RETURN OF THE GOALIE
Quinnipiac, who has advanced to postseason play in four of the last six seasons, will once again rely on its defense in 2014. The Bobcats return the majority of their backline, including junior goalkeeper Natalia Grodzki. Grodzki ranked fifth among netminders in the MAAC with a 1.07 goals against average last year. She turned away nearly 80 percent of the shots she faced and allowed 18 goals in 16 matches.
GRODZKI IN THE RECORD BOOKS
No stranger to a clean sheet, Grodzki has earned five and a half on the season and six and a half for her career. With the shutout against Monmouth (10/26), Grodzki moved into a tie with Gwen Miller (QU '03) for 10th place all time in single-season shutouts. Grodzki is also 10th place all time in single season goals against with a 1.07 goals against and sits in second place all-time with a 0.97 career goals against average.
THE BACKLINE
The Bobcats return Taylor Healey, Proctor, and Laura Nicholas to their defensive unit. Healey, an All-New England (NEWISA) selection, enters her final season with 47 career appearances and two goals to her name. Proctor, an All-Rookie Team honoree, and Nicholas saw action in nearly every game in 2013. Proctor started 14 of the 16 games she appeared in while Nicholas played in 14 games, 13 of them in a starting role.
ONE YEAR IN THE BOOKS
In its first season in the MAAC, Quinnipiac posted a 3-3-4 record in conference play and owned one of the best defenses in the league. The Bobcats' season came to a close in the MAAC Tournament after a tough 1-0 loss to Manhattan in the opening round. Three players were honored with All-MAAC honors in Jess Lavoie, Jessica Fontaine and Joanna Proctor – all three of which return in 2014.
ONE MORE SEASON IN UNIFORM
Anchoring Quinnipiac's midfield will be senior Jess Lavoie, who appeared in all 16 games for the Bobcats this past season while starting in 14 games. Lavoie scored her first career goal on Oct. 19 at Canisius and also picked up an assist in a 3-0 win over Saint Peter's on Sept. 21. Lavoie has appeared in all but one game in her three-year career.
FONTAINE
On the attack, Jessica Fontaine looks to follow a sensational freshman year as she returns for her sophomore season. In her first year with the Bobcats, she was the team-leader in goals (3), points (9), shots (25) and shots on goal (15). Highlighted by a four-point effort against Saint Peter's (Sept. 21), Fontaine earned All-Rookie Team honors at seasons end.
FINDING THE SCORESHEET IS KEY
Looking to make an impact up top, seniors Caitlyn Shaw and Christina Cesarini also return to the lineup in 2014. Shaw scored her lone goal of the season in a 2-0 win against Rider on Sept. 28. Sophomore Kelly Caruso, an All-New England (NEWISA) honoree, rounds out the group of returning scorers for the Bobcats. Quinnipiac totaled 11 goals in 2013, a figure that ranked among the bottom teams in the MAAC.
THE HEAD COACH
With a win over Manhattan on Oct. 23, 2013, head coach Dave Clarke picked up his 120th career victory. Now in his 16th season, Clarke has firmly cemented himself as one of the premiere college coaches in the NCAA's highest division. He effectively etched his signature on Quinnipiac soccer by becoming not only the winningest coach in its history, but leading his team to an NCAA Tournament berth in 2000 and a regular-season championship in 2001. In 15 seasons as a head coach, Clarke has a 138-133-31 overall record, which features a 120-119-28 mark while at Quinnipiac.
A FIRST FOR QUINNIPIAC
With a win over Saint Peter's on Saturday, Sept. 21 the women's soccer team picked up the first MAAC win in any sport for Quinnipiac. The Bobcats women's soccer team was the first Quinnipiac team to win a game at the Division I level in 1998.
ON DECK
The Bobcats head out west for a three-day road trip in California. Quinnipiac takes on Pacific on Friday, Aug. 29 and UC Davis on Sunday, Aug. 31.
