QU Field Hockey Plays Host to No. 8 Penn State on Sunday at 12:00 PM
9/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Quinnipiac Bobcats (0-2, 0-0 MAAC) vs.
No. 8 Penn State Nittany Lions (2-0, 0-0 BIG 10)
Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014 – 12:00 PM
QU Field Hockey Turf Complex – Hamden, Conn.
All-Time Series vs. Penn State: 0-1
Last Meeting: Sept. 11, 2011 (L, 6-1) @ Penn State
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WELCOME TO HAMDEN
After playing host to the first annual Longstreth/Bobcat Classic last weekend, the Quinnipiac field hockey team (0-2, 0-0 MAAC) returns home to face the No. 8 nationally-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions (2-0, 0-0 BIG 10) on Sunday at 12:00 pm in Hamden. This will be the first time the Bobcats have faced off against the national power Nittany Lions from the QU Field Hockey Turf Complex and just their second all-time meeting against Penn State.
ALL-TIME AGAINST PENN STATE
The Bobcats are set to play in just their second all-time meeting against one of the national powerhouse programs in NCAA Div. I. Penn State defeated the Bobcats, 6-1, from University Park, Pa. as the Nittany Lions outshot Quinnipiac 26-3 for the game. Quinnipiac did, however, manage to put one past the Penn State defense as Kim Cunniff blasted home a penalty corner off a feed from Kaitlyn Notarianni.
SCOUTING THE No. 8 NITTANY LIONS
After opening the season with two victories over Top 10 opponents, the No. 8 nationally-ranked Penn State field hockey team (2-0, 0-0 BIG 10) will now hit the road for the first time in the 2014 campaign. The Nittany Lions put together an impressive home debut last weekend as they took down No. 9 Old Dominion, 2-1, on Friday and defeated No. 6 Virginia, 3-0, on Sunday. Entering the weekend with two Top 10 wins already, they will look for a third traveling to No. 3 UConn on Saturday before taking on the Bobcats on Sunday. In her 28th season leading the Nittany Lions, head coach Charlene Morett has played a huge role in the consistent success of this acclaimed program. Penn State has qualified for the NCAA Tournament in each of the last four seasons and has qualified for the postseason 29 out of 32 possible seasons. The 2014 squad is led by their senior goalkeeper Kylie Licata who just earned the first Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award. She posted a career-high nine saves in a 2-1 win over No. 9 Old Dominion and then followed that up with a six-save shutout performance against No. 6 Virginia. Penn State freshman back Cori Conley is also fresh off being named the conference's Freshman of the Week. The first Nittany Lion to receive freshman of the week honors since Nov. 1, 2011 played a big role in holding two Top 10 opponents to just one goal combined over the weekend, including the first time the Cavaliers had been held scoreless in a match since 2011. Penn State's top scorer is a senior forward Jenna Chrismer who comes in with five points (two goals, one assist) while fellow classmate Natalie Buttinger is tied for the team-lead with two goals on the season.
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 last weekend 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 |
MENTOREE VS. MENTOR
Sunday's game between Quinnipiac and Penn State will be a little more interesting for the Bobcats' 20-year head coach Becca Main as she will be facing off against her alma mater and former head coach Charlene Morett. A 1994 graduate of Penn State and former two-time All-American in her years as a Nittany Lion, Main starred for the Nittany Lions at the beginning stages of Morett's 28 years at the helm with Penn State.
FRESH ON THE SCENE
The first Bobcat goal scored of the season came off a strong play from Quinnipiac's freshman forward Isamarie Ramos. She took a pass at midfield and picked up plenty of speed carrying into the Lafayette defensive zone. Ramos dribbled into the circle and fed Danielle Allan with a perfect centering pass for the wide open goal. That assist for Ramos is the first of her career in just her second appearance with the Bobcats.
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.
Longest Shutout Streak Among Div. I Goaltenders in 2013
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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.
Most Incoming Freshmen Among all Div. I Schools
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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.
Contact: Maxx McNall; maxx.mcnall@quinnipac.edu
