QU Field Hockey Returns to Hamden For Non-Conference Showdown With UMass Lowell on Tuesday at 3:30 PM
9/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Quinnipiac Bobcats (1-4, 0-0 MAAC) vs.
UMass Lowell River Hawks (2-4, 0-0 America East)
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014 – 3:30 PM
QU Field Hockey Turf Complex – Hamden, Conn.
All-Time Series vs. UMass Lowell: 2-0
Last Meeting: Sept. 17, 2013 (W, 3-1) @ UMass Lowell
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HOME SWEET HOME
After two straight road games last week, the Quinnipiac field hockey team makes its return to Hamden with a non-conference match on Tuesday against UMass Lowell. Still in search of their first home win on the season, the Bobcats (1-4, 0-0 MAAC) will look to piggyback off their 3-1 victory over the River Hawks (2-4, 0-0 America East) last season and get back in the win column.
ALL-TIME AGAINST UMASS LOWELL
The Bobcats have come away with victories in their two all-time meetings against UMass Lowell including a 3-1 road win on Sept. 17, 2013. Danielle Allan (two goals), Lea Dietrichs (one assist) and Megan Conaboy (four saves) all played a big role in last year's victory over the River Hawks and look to continue that success this season. Previous to the meeting last season, the Bobcats had not faced off against UMass Lowell since their second season as a varsity program. Quinnipiac's only other prior meeting against the River Hawks came on Oct. 18, 1996 with the Bobcats coming away with a 2-1 victory.
SCOUTING THE RIVER HAWKS
Currently 2-4 on the season, UMass Lowell has already matched their win total from the 2013 season as the River Hawks continue to progress in just their second year as a NCAA Div. I program. Opening their season with back-to-back wins over La Salle and a double overtime thriller against Longwood, the River Hawks have dropped four straight games since by a combined five goals. Head coach Shannon Hlebichuk, now in her 13th season, built UMass Lowell into a power as the River Hawks picked up a pair of NCAA Div. II Championships (2005, 2010) and eight Northeast-10 Conference Tournament titles (2003-07; 2010-12). After guiding her team through their first season as a Div. I program in 2013, Hlebichuk fields a well-rounded bunch that is led by senior Bianca Jones who comes into Tuesday with five of the team's 11 goals this season. Sophomores Georgia Cowderoy (two goals, three assists) and Eleonore Agneessens (one goal, three assists) also spearhead the offensive attack for UMass Lowell alongside Jones. The River Hawks' defensive unit has not disappointed as freshman goalkeeper Kelsey Federico has started all six games and played every minute in the cage this season. Her 2014 season totals include a 2-4 record, 2.07 GAA, 32 saves, .711 save percentage and one shutout in the team's season opener against La Salle.
SHE'S KIND OF A BIG DEAL
Saturday's heartbreaking 1-0 overtime loss to Yale certainly wouldn't have gone into the extra period had it not been for the outstanding effort for the Bobcats' senior goalkeeper Megan Conaboy. She posted six saves in 77:56 of action on the afternoon including several in the waning minutes from deep within the Quinnipiac defensive circle. Combined with her shutout victory on Wednesday, Conaboy tallied a 0.47 GAA, 10 saves and .909 save percentage in two road games last week.
McCULLOUGH MAKES IT HAPPEN
Junior midfielder Meghan McCullough had herself a career day as she picked up her first career multi-goal game on Wednesday at Holy Cross. The Bobcats' third-year midfielder McCullough moved up to one of the three forward positions in tonight's matchup, a move that certainly paid off for head coach Becca Main. Coming into Wednesday with just two career goals, McCullough doubled her career total in just one game.
WOW THAT WAS FAST
McCullough's first tally at 1:13 in the first half was the fastest goal scored for Quinnipiac in a game since Lauren Hartnett scored 1:01 into a 6-2 win at home against Fairfield on Sept. 17, 2008. It did make some history, however, as the goal is the fastest scored by Quinnipiac in a road game in the program's Div. I era (since 1998).
FRESH ON THE SCENE
With two more first career assists on Wednesday, all three assists the Bobcats have tallied this season have come from first-year freshmen. Dayna Barlow and Felicia Costanzo each picked up one assist at Holy Cross while Isamarie Ramos had one assist against Lafayette on Aug. 31.
SHUTTING IT DOWN
The two-time reigning MAAC Goalkeeper of the Week Megan Conaboy finally recorded a well-deserved shutout on Wednesday as she blanked the Crusaders on the road with four saves in a 2-0 Bobcat victory. Conaboy's four-save shutout is her first of the season and 8th of her career which moved her into sole possession of fourth place on the all-time list at Quinnipiac.
PLAY4THE CURE
We are now just one month away from the annual Play4The Cure Breast Cancer Awareness Game on Oct. 12 as the Bobcats play host to Old Dominion at 1:00 pm. The team invites all to support the Bobcats and donate to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Skin Cancer Research and Prostate Cancer Research as part of our annual fundraiser. Visit our official Play4The Cure page at the link below to donate and learn more about our mission to help the fight against cancer.
Play4The Cure Page Link: http://www.quinnipiacbobcats.com/sports/fh/2014-15/play4thecure14
DOUBLE DIP
Coming off one of the best games in the history of Quinnipiac field hockey, the Bobcats' senior goalkeeper Megan Conaboy earned her second consecutive MAAC Defensive Player of the Week honor on Tuesday, Sept. 9. Conaboy takes home her fifth career Defensive Player of the Week honor after her brilliant 22-save effort at home against the Nittany Lions on Sunday, Sept. 7. The 22-save effort against Penn State went down as a new career high for Conaboy, besting her previous mark of 18 posted on Aug. 31, 2013 against Syracuse
SAVING THE DAY
Conaboy's 22 saves were not only a career high for the Bobcats' senior but the single game saves total ranks as the most saves for any goalkeeper in a single game this season. No other goalkeeper in all of the NCAA Div. I ranks has tallied more than 18 saves in a game this season as Conaboy busted through with a tremendous effort.
NCAA Div. I Single-Game Saves 2014 (as of Mon., Sept. 15)
| Rank | Player | School | Saves | Opposition | Date |
| 1. | Megan Conaboy | Quinnipiac | 22 | Penn State | 9/7/14 |
| 2. | Jantien Gunter | Drexel | 18 | Maryland | 9/13/14 |
| 3. | Lizzy Millen | Temple | 17 | Maryland | 9/14/14 |
| T4. | Sadie Reynolds | Central Michigan | 16 | Duke | 8/31/14 |
| Emily Snowden | Vermont | 16 | Providence | 8/29/14 |
NATION'S LEADER
Conaboy's prowess in the cage has been put on display in all three games to open the season for the Bobcats as she now has totaled 53 saves while playing every minute in the cage for Quinnipiac in 2014. As an individual, Conaboy ranks first in the nation in terms of saves per game (10.60) while she ranks first in the MAAC and ninth nationally in save percentage (.828).
NCAA Div. I Saves Per Game 2014 (as of Mon., Sept. 15)
| Rank | Player | School | Saves Per Game |
| 1. | Megan Conaboy | Quinnipiac | 10.60 |
| 2. | Emily Snowden | Vermont | 9.60 |
| 3. | Julia Ward | Lehigh | 9.00 |
| 4. | Rachel Hartman | La Salle | 8.60 |
| 5. | Liz Tamburro | Ohio State | 8.40 |
KING OF THE DEFENSIVE SAVE
With two more defensive saves against Penn State, the Bobcats' sophomore defenseman Angie King now has the most defensive saves of any player in the nation with four on the season. As a team, the Bobcats are tied with Lehigh for the most defensive saves in 2014 with seven.
MAAC DP OF THE WEEK
Senior goalkeeper Megan Conaboy was named the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, Sept. 2. Conaboy is the MAAC's first Defensive Player of the Week honoree for the 2014 season as the weekly award is the fourth of her career. For the weekend, Conaboy posted the most saves of any goalkeeper in the MAAC with 21 while also contributing a 2.77 GAA and .778 save percentage while playing every minute in games against No. 13 Boston College and Lafayette.
MOVIN ON UP
Quinnipiac's senior forward Danielle Allan pumped in both goals against Lafayette to lead the offensive effort at home for the Bobcats. The multi-goal game was the sixth in the career of the Bobcats' two-time All-Conference performer while the two goals also gives her 23 for her career while places her in sole possession of 8th place on the all-time list at Quinnipiac. Her four points on Sunday against Lafayette also pushes her into a tie with Kristin Crosby for 6th place at Quinnipiac with 60 career points.
Quinnipiac Career Goals List
| Rank | Player | Goals |
| 1. | Jess Rusin '14 | 40 |
| 2. | Heather Cady '02 | 31 |
| 3. | Catie Canetti '01 | 30 |
| 4. | Chelsea Osbrey '06 | 26 |
| T5. | Kimberly Cunniff '12 | 25 |
| Kristin Crosby '02 | 25 | |
| 7. | Julie Smith '02 | 24 |
| 8. | Danielle Allan '15 | 23 |
| 9. | Kristen McCarthy '06 | 22 |
| T10. | Kaitlyn Notarianni '12 | 20 |
| Danielle Avenoso '07 | 20 |
Quinnipiac Career Points List
| Rank | Player | Points |
| 1. | Jess Rusin '14 | 94 |
| 2. | Heather Cady '02 | 80 |
| 3. | Catie Canetti '01 | 69 |
| 4. | Chelsea Osbrey '06 | 67 |
| 5. | Julie Smith '02 | 62 |
| T6. | Kristin Crosby '02 | 60 |
| Danielle Allan '15 | 60 | |
| 8. | Kimberly Cunniff '12 | 58 |
| 9. | Kristen McCarthy '06 | 54 |
| T10. | Kristin Engelke '14 | 49 |
| Kaitlyn Notarianni '12 | 49 |
THE MAAC PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
The Quinnipiac field hockey team was tabbed as the favorites to win the MAAC, as voted on by the leagues' coaches in the 2014 MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Bobcats also had all three seniors in Danielle Allan, Megan Conaboy and Megan Osanitsch earn All-MAAC Preseason honors.
MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Quinnipiac (32)
2. Monmouth (28)
3. Rider (27)
4. Bryant (19)
5. Sacred Heart (11)
6. Siena (9)
CAGE FIGHTER
Quinnipiac benefitted greatly from one of the league's stingiest defenses in 2013 and the Bobcats will welcome back their senior goalkeeper and reigning MAAC Co-Goalkeeper of the Year in Conaboy. The three-time MAAC Defensive Player of the Week posted one of the best seasons for a Quinnipiac goalkeeper in program history with a 14-7 record, 1.89 GAA, .740 save percentage, seven shutouts and 114 saves in helping the Bobcats secure the 2013 MAAC Championship. Playing every minute of every game in the 2013 season, Conaboy dominated the MAAC competition with a 7-1 record, 0.62 GAA, .871 save percentage and five shutouts in eight games against intra-conference opponents. Her single-season win total (14) is a new program record at Quinnipiac while her seven shutouts ranked second on the all-time list.
SHUTOUT STREAK
During Megan Conaboy's breakout 2013 season, the then-sophomore goalkeeper ran off an incredible shutout streak of 345:09 that included three shutouts (two of which came in the MAAC Tournament) and lasted over the course of five games. Her remarkable year-end stretch ranked as the 7th-longest shutout streak during the 2013 season of any goalkeeper in the nation.
SENIOR LEADER
A 2012 All-MAAC Second Team selection, senior Danielle Allan returns for her final season with the Bobcats are enjoying another standout offensive season. She finished the 2013 campaign with nine goals and five assists for 23 points, including a pair of goals against Bryant in the MAAC Semifinals. Allan had a breakout September, totaling six goals and one assist for 13 points – second only to Jess Rusin's 14-point month – as Quinnipiac went 5-4 in nine non-conference games. She will head into her final season in 2014 with 21 career goals, 14 assists and 56 points – all of which rank in the Top 10 all-time at Quinnipiac.
THE CAPTAINS
The Bobcats have awarded their three senior class members in Danielle Allan, Megan Conaboy and Megan Osanitsch with the honor of team captains. Coach Main named the announcement in August as her three new captains all enjoyed breakout 2013 campaigns in helping guide the Bobcats to their first MAAC title and NCAA Tournament appearance since 2003.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
Offensively, the Bobcats are coming off a banner year in which Quinnipiac led the MAAC in goals scored (57), goals scored per game (2.71), assists (53), assists per game (2.52) and scoring average (2.71). Coach Main will need a talented group of returners mixed in with some skilled newcomers to replace the nine seniors, five of which were named All-Conference, who contributed a combined 41 goals, 37 assists and 119 points.
DEFENSE MATTERS
Returning to the defensive core with Conaboy is fellow co-captain and All-MAAC Preseason selection in senior defender Osanitsch. The Bobcats will rely heavily on the leadership and consistency of Osanitsch who played in and started all 21 games last season. In her junior year, Osanitsch tallied career highs across the board in goals (three), assists (two), points (eight), shots (nine), shots-on-goal (nine), game-winning goals (two) and defensive saves (one).
WELCOME NEWCOMERS
Helping to replace the significant workload of the nine graduated seniors will be a healthy crop of 10 freshmen, who'll all look to make an immediate impact on Coach Main's squad. Across the entire nation, Quinnipiac field hockey's Class of 2018 is tied for the 2nd-largest among all Div. I programs. The Bobcats are tied with five schools for second place including national powers such as Syracuse, American and Iowa. All institutions trail Ohio State who welcomes 12 freshmen in 2014.
THE HEAD COACH
One of the nation's most visible faces in the sport of field hockey, Quinnipiac head coach Becca Main has elevated the Bobcats into multifaceted and well-rounded program. Now entering her 20th season in 2014, coach Main has built the Bobcats into an annual power, first in the Northeast Conference and now in the newly formed Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. A formidable regional opponent for years, Main's program continues to ascend to new heights as the Bobcats are coming off the best record in program history (14-7) in 2013 as well as the first MAAC Championship in the history of Quinnipiac Athletics.
A FIRST FOR QUINNIPIAC
With their MAAC Regular Season and Tournament Championship, the 2013 Bobcats became the first sport at Quinnipiac to win each respective titles in their new conference. Quinnipiac finished the regular season with a 5-1 mark in MAAC play and went on to defeat Bryant and Robert Morris to capture the 2013 MAAC crown.
THE BOBCATS IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
The 2013 season marked the Bobcats' third trip to the NCAA Tournament after previously playing in the 2001 NCAA Play-In Game against California and the 2003 Play-In Game against American.
