QU Women's Lacrosse Heads to Vermont for Wednesday Afternoon Non-Conference Tilt
3/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Quinnipiac University Bobcats (0-5, 0-0 MAAC) at
University of Vermont Catamounts (3-3, 0-0 America East)
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 • 3:00 PM
Virtue Field • Burlington, Vt.
All-Time Series vs. Vermont: (4-7)
Last Meeting: March 12, 2014 • L, 19-10
- Quinnipiac 2015 Season Statistics
- Vermont 2015 Season Statistics
- Free Live Video: NSNSports.net
THE FACEOFF
After three of four games at home, the Quinnipiac women's lacrosse team continues a six-game road swing with Vermont this week. Wednesday's game marks a lengthy trip up through New England for the Bobcats, traveling to face the Catamounts at Virtue Field in Burlington. Play is set to begin at 3:00 p.m.
ON THE AIR
Fans who can't make it to Burlington on Wednesday can tune into the game by visiting the free video feed provided by NSNSports.net.
ALL-TIME AGAINST VERMONT
Quinnipiac will be taking on the Vermont Catamounts for the fifth straight season in 2015 and the Bobcats will be in search of erasing a two-game losing streak in the series against Vermont. Quinnipiac dropped a 19-10 decision to Vermont in 2014 from Hamden and last defeated the Catamounts on March 9, 2013, 13-12, at Virtue Field in Burlington.
SCOUTING THE CATAMOUNTS
Vermont (3-3) comes in already having a successful run through non-conference play as the Catamounts defeated Colgate, Siena and High Point while falling to No. 6 nationally-ranked Boston College on Feb. 21, 13-10, in a hotly contested back-and-forth battle in Burlington. Vermont comes in having lost in its most recent game to Winthrop and return home where the Catamounts are in search of their first home win of 2015. Jessica Roach, Marcie Marino and Danielle Seifert have led the Catamount attack with a combined 40 points in the first six games. Roach ranks third in America East with 3.17 goals per game. Meg Hopkins has started all six games in net and has the third-most saves per game (8.00) in the conference. Roach owns a team-leading total of 19 goals while Vanessa VanderZalm is tied with Hopkins for the team-lead in ground balls (13).
LAST TIME OUT
Kyra Ochwat led the way for the Bobcats with a five-point game but it wasn't enough as Quinnipiac dropped a road non-conference game to Hoftra, 14-9, on Saturday. Ochwat's five points moved her into sole possession of second place on the all-time list at Quinnipiac in goals (129) and points (176). Kathleen DeVito finished with four points (three goals, one assist) to continue her breakout 2015 campaign while Devin Kelly posted two goals for the first multi-point game of her career. Samantha Tilts did everything she could to keep her team in the game as she totaled 14 saves on 28 shots, her second-most saves in a single-game throughout her 47-game career. Kelly's second game of the game with 12:28 left to play gave Hofstra just a one-goal lead, 8-7, but the Prde answered with six of the final eight goals scored on the day to claim the five-goal victory, 14-9.
THE NETMINDER
Samantha Tilts stepped up in a big way as she finished with 14 saves on 28 shots to keep her team in the game at Hofstra (3/8). Despite being outshot 38-17 in attempted shots and 28-15 in shots-on-goal, Tilts played her best game of the season in just her second start in five games. Tilts' 14 saves are good enough for the second-most in a single-game throughout her 47 career appearances.
POINT PRODUCER
Kyra Ochwat was the primary offensive weapon once again as she finished with five points (four goals, one assist) at Hofstra (3/8) to lead the Bobcats in scoring. The five-point game was the 17th of Ochwat's career where she finished with at least five points.
BUSTING THROUGH
Sophomore Devin Kelly is enjoying a breakout season in her second year as a Bobcat, currently ranking fourth on the team with five points (three goals, two assists). After seeing time in 13 games (one start) and finishing with four points as a freshman, Kelly has already racked up five points in five games (all starts) for Quinnipiac. She just finished with her first multi-goal game at Hofstra (3/8) and is in the midst of a three-game point streak.
DEFENSIVE SENSATION
Heading up a young defensive core for Quinnipiac has been freshman Kiera Kelly who comes into Wednesday ranking first on the team in ground balls (12) and caused turnovers (six). Kelly has already compiled three ground balls in three games in 2015 and also is riding a streak of five straight games with at least one caused turnover.
INSTANT OFFENSE ALL OF THE SUDDEN
No Bobcat has enjoyed more offensive success over the last three games then junior Kathleen DeVito. After matching her career-high with five points (three goals, two assists) and first career hat trick against Binghamton (2/28), she followed that up with her three goals against UConn and her third straight hat trick (three goals, one assist) at Hofstra (3/8). Her 12 points over the last three games rank first on the team. Through five games in 2015, DeVito trails only Kyra Ochwat (16) for the team-lead in points with 14 which is already just two away from matching her single-season career bests established as a sophomore in 2014.
OFFENSIVE IGNITOR
Kyra Ochwat has factored heavily in the Bobcats' offense thus far in the 2015 season as she leads the team with 16 points (12 goals, four assists). Ochwat upped her career goal to 129 which gives her sole possession of second place on the QU all-time list. She also sits in second place in QU program history with 176 points. Her five multi-point game of the season at Hofstra (3/8) also ups her streak to 14 straight games with at least two points.
MULTI-POINT GAMES ALL AROUND
Five different Bobcats joined Kathleen DeVito with multi-point games as Aileen Carey (two goals, one assist), Devin Kelly (one goal, one assist), Leah Walter (one goal, one assist) and Kyra Ochwat (one goal, one assist) all finished with at least two points. For both Kelly and Walter it was the first multi-point game of their respective careers. The last time Quinnipiac fielded five multi-point scorers in which the Bobcats didn't reach double digit goals came on March 30, 2013 at Central Conn. St. (23 games ago).
SHE'S EVERYWHERE
One of the Bobcats' most valuable players all season has been junior midfielder Aileen Carey. Through five games, she ranks third on the team in points (nine), third in goals (five), tied for first in assists (four), second in ground balls (10), third in draw controls (eight) and third in caused turnovers (four). She just wrapped up a productive game against UConn (3/4) with three points, four draw controls, two ground balls and one caused turnover. The four draw controls for Carey are the second-most for her in a game over her 33-game career.
IT'S OKAY WE'LL TAKE A DRAW
Quinnipiac should be quite happy with the work being done on the draw controls as the Bobcats currently rank third in the MAAC in draw controls per game (11.20). The Bobcats field two players (Kayla Murphy 3.00, 69th and Kelly Babstock 2.40, 116th) who both rank in the Top 150 in the nation in draw controls per game. For Murphy, her 3.00 draw controls per game also put her 9th among all freshmen in the nation in the statistical category.
OFFENSIVE STOPPER
Vicki Kuhn has been dealt with three difficult matchups this season and has come through in flying colors. Starting with Albany (2/21), Kuhn limited the reigning America East Offensive Player of the Year and Inside Lacrosse Preseason Third Team All-American Rachel Bowles to just three points (two goals, one assist). She followed that up at Yale (2/25), limiting the Bulldogs' 2014 IWLCA All-Northeast attack Nicole Daniggelis to just one goal and three shots throughout the 60-minute contest. Finally against UConn (3/4), she held the Huskies' leader in points and goals to just two assists throughout the 18-8 loss.
UNDERCLASSMEN LEADING THE WAY
Three Bobcat underclassmen are among the team leaders in two major categories as freshman Kiera Kelly currently owns the team-lead in both ground balls (12) and caused turnovers (six) back on the defensive side of the field. Another underclassmen making waves is sophomore Carly Knowles who leads the is right behind Kelly sitting in second place in caused turnovers (five). Finally, freshman Kayla Murphy has performed quite well in draw controls in 2015 as she leads the Bobcats with 15.
DRAW CONTROLLING HER WAY TO HISTORY
Quinnipiac freshman midfielder Kayla Murphy made a little history on the draws against Albany (2/21). In her first career game, Murphy finished with a game-high five draw controls against Albany. The single-game total of five is the most draw controls by a QU freshman since the stat became an official tally in 2003-04. For the game, Murphy helped the Bobcats finish even with the Great Danes on draws, 14-14.
2014 FALL SEASON RECAP
Quinnipiac is coming off a highly successful 2014 fall season that featured the 2014 Connecticut Cup Championship and an undefeated 3-0 record through three home exhibitions games played against LIU Post (14-8), UMass-Lowell (14-6) and Manhattan (13-11). Throughout the three-game home exhibition series, Kelly Babstock led the QU attack with a team-high 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) while Aileen Carey picked up nine points (six goals, three assists), Kyra Ochwat tallied seven points (five goals, two assists) in two games, Alexandra Hlesciak scored six points (three goals, three assists) and freshman goalkeeper Kyle Larkin picked up all three wins with 13 saves and 14 goals allowed through three games.
BOBCATS FIFTH IN MAAC PRESEASON POLL
Quinnipiac was tabbed fifth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced by the league office on Thursday, January 29, 2015. Canisius, who finished the 2014 season with a 12-7 overall record and claimed their fourth straight MAAC Championship, earned the top spot in the poll with 79 points and seven of the nine first place votes. Marist, the runner-up in the MAAC Tournament last season, finished second with 72 points and received the final two first place votes. Fairfield (60) and Monmouth (59) snatched third and fourth, respectively. Quinnipiac (39) followed in fifth while Niagara (34), Siena (32), Iona (16) and Manhattan (14) rounded out the census.
