QU Women's Soccer Hosts Vermont on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 1 PM
9/8/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Quinnipiac University (0-4-0, 0-0-0 MAAC) vs.
University Vermont (2-3-0, 0-0-0 America East)
Saturday, September 13, 2014 • 1:00 PM
QU Soccer Field • Hamden, Connecticut
All-Time Series vs. Vermont (DI): 1-3 (1-3)
Last Meeting: September 13, 2013 | L, 1-0 | Burlington, Vt.
- Quinnipiac Women's Soccer Homepage
- Vermont Women's Soccer Homepage
- Quinnipiac Women's Soccer Stat Packet
- Live Stats: QuinnipiacBobcats.com
- Live Video: QuinnipiacBobcats.com
- Live Twitter: @QUAthletics
HOME OPENER
After four straight games on the road to begin the season, the Quinnipiac University women's soccer team (0-4, 0-0 MAAC) is ready for its home opener this weekend. On Saturday, Sept. 13, the Bobcats welcome University of Vermont (2-3, 0-0 AE) to Hamden for a non-conference clash. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at the QU Soccer Field on Mount Carmel Campus.
ALL-TIME AGAINST VERMONT
Saturday's encounter marks the fifth meeting all-time between the two programs. A close series to say the least, each of the four previous games have been decided by one goal. Quinnipiac is 1-3 against Vermont with the lone win coming in 2012 with a 2-1 victory in Hamden. Last year, Vermont edged the Bobcats in Burlington, 1-0.
SCOUTING THE CATAMOUNTS
This high-scoring Catamount squad enters Saturday's clash with a 2-3 record in five non-conference games. After a pair of wins to open the season, Vermont has been on the wrong end of the score sheet in its last three games, each against formidable opposition. The Catamounts dropped a 1-0 decision to Fordham, a 3-1 defeat to Colgate and most recently a 3-2 loss in overtime to ACC foe Syracuse. Vermont scored two second half goals, including the game-tying goal with six minutes remaining, to force overtime with Syracuse. Freshman Jessica Silverman scored the game-tying goal and one against Colgate, earning America East Rookie of the Week honors. Fellow classmate Sarah Martin leads the team in scoring with three goals and was also named AE Rookie of the Week earlier in the season.
LAST WEEKEND'S ACTION
Quinnipiac dropped a non-conference match to Yale University on Friday, Sept. 5, as the Bobcats were on the wrong end of a 2-0 decision from Reese Stadium in New Haven. Natalia Grodzki made four saves in the match for Quinnipiac.
SPOT START IN NET
Tori Graessle's number was called against UC Davis (8/31), and the senior goalkeeper did not disappoint. She was stellar in the spot appearance, turning away three shots including a diving save on a breakaway to keep the score tied late in the second half. It was Graessle's first career start and her sixth career game as she lowered her goals against average to 1.47.
GAME EXPERIENCE
Sarah Pandolfi, Daniella Maggio and Carly Glaser each played for the first time in a Bobcat uniform against Maine (8/22). Pandolfi and Maggio both started for Quinnipiac, while Glaser made an appearance in the 75th minute. Jillian Consolini also made her first appearance against UC Davis (8/31), seeing action up front for the Bobcats.
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 HEAD COACH
With a win over Manhattan on Oct. 23rd 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 at Quinnipiac, Clarke has a 120-123-28 record.
2013 Season Review
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 OF YOUTH
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.
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 return to action on Friday, Sept. 19 with a road game at Saint Joseph's. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Sweeney Field in Philadelphia, Pa.
