Quinnipiac University
Hofstra
QU Women's Lacrosse Heads to Hofstra on Sunday Afternoon
3/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Quinnipiac University Bobcats (0-4, 0-0 MAAC) at
Hofstra University Pride (3-2, 0-0 CAA)
Sunday, March 8, 2015 • 1:00 PM
James M. Shuart Stadium • Hempstead, N.Y.
All-Time Series vs. Hofstra: (0-2)
Last Meeting: March 9, 2014 • L, 13-7
- Quinnipiac 2015 Season Statistics
- Hofstra 2015 Season Statistics
- Live Video: GoHofstra.com
- Live Stats: GoHofstra.com
THE FACEOFF
After three of four games at home, the Quinnipiac women's lacrosse team starts a six-game road swing with Hofstra this weekend. Sunday's game marks just the second road game for the Bobcats, traveling to face the Pride at the James M. Shuart Stadium. Play is set to begin at 1:00 p.m.
ON THE AIR
Fans who can't make it to Hempstead on Sunday can tune into the game by visiting the video feed provided by GoHofstra.com. A free live video stream, live audio and live stats are all available online
ALL-TIME AGAINST HOFSTRA
Quinnipiac will be taking on the Hofstra Pride for the third straight season in 2015 and the Bobcats will be in search of their first win in program history against Hofstra. Quinnipiac dropped a 13-7 decision to Hofstra in 2014 from Hamden the Bobcats also fell to the Pride 12-8 back in the first all-time meeting in 2013.
SCOUTING THE PRIDE
Hofstra (3-2) started the season with two straight wins against New Hampshire and Fairfield before falling to a pair of national powers Harvard and Maryland. Most recently, the Pride defeated Marist on Friday, 12-8, to push them back over the .500 mark on the season. Hofstra's offense very much centers around one all-around force in Brittain Altomare who leads the team with 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists). She has attempted twice as many shots (26) as the next-closest player on the team while she also has racked up 26 draw controls to lead the team. Tiana Parrella and Morgan Knox both have five goals and five assists while Amanda Seekamp is second on the team with eight goals. Kelsey Gregerson has started all five games for the Pride and boasts a 9.04 GAA and .477 save percentage.
INSTANT OFFENSE ALL OF THE SUDDEN
No Bobcat has enjoyed more offensive success over the last two 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 second straight hat trick against UConn. Her eight points over the last two games rank first on the team. Through four games in 2015, DeVito trails only Kyra Ochwat for the team-lead in points with 10 which is already just six 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 11 points (eight goals, three assists). Ochwat upped her career goal to 125 which is teid with Marta Waldron '02 (125) for second place on the QU all-time list. She also tied Christine Sinnigen '11 (46) for sixth place in program history as both Bobcats currently stand with 46 career assists and is fourth all-time in career points (171). Her fourth multi-point game of the season against UConn (3/4) also ups her streak to 13 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 four games, she ranks third on the team in points (nine), third in goals (five), first in assists (four), tied for first in ground balls (nine), third in draw controls (eight) and tied for second 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 second in the MAAC in draw controls per game (11.75). The Bobcats field two players (Kayla Murphy 3.12, 59th and Kelly Babstock 2.75, 85th) who both rank in the Top 100 in the nation in draw controls per game. For Murphy, her 3.25 draw controls per game also put her 10th among all freshmen in the nation in the statistical category.
OFFENSIVE STOPPER
Vicki Kuhn has been dealt with three difficult matchups through two games this season but she 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 is tied for team-lead in caused turnovers (four) while she tied for the team-lead in ground balls (nine) this season. Another underclassmen making waves is sophomore Carly Knowles who leads the team in caused turnovers (five). Finally, freshman Kayla Murphy has performed quite well in draw controls in 2015 as she leads the Bobcats with 13.
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.
SENIOR LEADERS
Quinnipiac women's lacrosse head coach Danie Caro and her staff has announced that senior defender Vicki Kuhn will captain the squad for the 2014-15 season. In addition, coach Caro has also named seniors Briana Fountain and Kyra Ochwat as the Bobcats' assistant captains this season.
ONE OF THE BEST
The 2014 campaign was another standout season for Vicki Kuhn as she earned All-MAAC First Team honors spearheading the Quinnipiac defensive unit. Often tasked with defending the opposition's main offensive weapon, Kuhn finished 2014 with new career highs in ground balls (25) and caused turnovers (18). She also chipped in on the offensive end with one goal and three assists while also tallying 16 draw controls last season. Her impressive all-around season also garnered the team's Outstanding Defensive Player award handed out at the team's annual end-of-year ceremony.
STANDOUT SENIOR
All eyes offensively are on Kyra Ochwat, one of the program's all-time scoring leaders. Finishing the 2014 campaign with an All-MAAC First Team selection, in addition to earning the team's Most Valuable Player and Most Outstanding Attack Player, Ochwat proved her worth for Quinnipiac in their first season as a member of the MAAC. For the season, she finished with the team-lead in goals (44), assists (18) and points (62) while also chipping in with 15 ground balls, 12 caused turnovers and nine draw controls. Ochwat finished second in the MAAC in goals per game (2.93) points per game (4.13) and shots per game (5.60) while she also finished fourth in assists per game (1.20).
THE SCHEDULE
Quinnipiac's 2015 schedule features non-conference games against traditionally dominant programs Albany (N.Y.) and UConn as well as a difficult eight-game MAAC slate that opens with a road matchup against reigning MAAC Champion and NCAA Tournament participant Canisius. Quinnipiac is on tap to play a 16-game regular season schedule with seven contests to be played on its home field, the QU Lacrosse Turf Complex. Additionally, the Bobcats will endure their second season in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), taking on the likes of 2014 MAAC Tournament participants Marist, Monmouth and Fairfield as well as Iona, Manhattan, Niagara and Siena.
ON DECK
Quinnipiac returns to action on Wednesday, March 4 when the Bobcats challenge an annual opponent UConn at home. Game time is set for 3 p.m. from the QU Lacrosse Turf Field in Hamden.
