Crucial MAAC Showdown Looms for QU Women's Soccer at Defending Champ Siena

Wednesday, October 19

Siena Field - Loudonville, NY

3:00 PM

Quinnipiac University

Siena

Crucial MAAC Showdown Looms for QU Women's Soccer at Defending Champ Siena

10/18/2016 11:31:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Bobcats Look to Avenge a Season-Ending 2-0 Loss to Siena at Home in 2015

By: QU Sports Information

Quinnipiac Bobcats (9-5-1, 5-3 MAAC) at
Siena Saints (7-5-3, 5-2 MAAC)
Wednesday, October 19, 2016 • 3:00 PM
Siena Field • Loudonville, NY
All-Time Series vs. Siena: 3-6-1

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A huge matchup in terms of potential positioning in the MAAC Tournament, the Quinnipiac women's soccer team finishes up its regular season road slate with a trip to the defending conference champion Siena on Wednesday. Both teams stand with 15 points in the MAAC table, just one point behind second place Rider in a fight for a potential top two seed and bye into the semifinal round. Coming off one of the Bobcats' best-played matches of the season at Monmouth on Saturday, this crucial weekday match pits a pair of near-identical squads against one another.

ALL-TIME AGAINST SIENA (3-6-1)

Quinnipiac has seen its fair share of struggles in recent memory against the Saints, entering with a 3-6-1 overall mark against Siena, including a seven-game winless streak (0-6-1) heading into Wednesday
Siena won a bid into the MAAC Tournament last year thanks to a 2-0 win over Quinnipiac in the 2015 regular season finale wherein the winner of that game in Hamden would advance into the postseason
Ranked as the No. 6 seed in the 2015 MAAC Tournament, Siena catapulted from that 2-0 win over the Bobcats and rolled to a MAAC Championship
The first meeting between both teams as conference opponents (2013) ended in a 1-1 tie, as Aine McKeever scored a penalty kick equalizer with just six minutes remaining in regulation to force a draw in Hamden
The Bobcats are just 1-4 in games played away from home in the all-time series
Two of the last four matchups against Siena have gone into overtime, with the Bobcats going 0-1-1 in those meetings
Quinnipiac's last win against the Saints came back on Sept. 23, 2007 when the Bobcats defeated Siena, 5-2, in a non-conference matchup from Hamden

SCOUTING REPORT: SIENA

Siena (7-5-3, 5-2 MAAC) is locked in a fight for a top two seed and three wins in the final three games of the regular season would clinch at least a No. 2 seed and first round bye in the MAAC Tournament
Nine points with three games remaining will be tough, however, as the Saints has games against Quinnipiac, Manhattan and at Canisius remaining
All three of those squads are currently positioned in the top half of the league table
A disappointing non-conference run saw Siena finish 3-4-2 prior to the start of MAAC play in mid-September
Opening conference play with a 4-0 mark, the Saints were high up on the MAAC leaderboard with undefeated Monmouth but a 1-2 record in the last three games has stalled that early momentum
Two losses came at home to Rider (1-0) and Monmouth (4-2) but the Saints most-recently bounced back with a 2-0 road win over Saint Peter's
Fans will remember a thrilling run to the 2015 MAAC Championship that saw Siena upset the top three seeds in succession as Siena upended No. 3 Marist (1-0), No. 1 Monmouth (2-1) and No. 2 Manhattan (5-2) on the way to the title
This year's team is one of the highest-scoring in the MAAC as the Saints come in averaging the second-most goals per game (2.29) in MAAC-only games
The Saints also predicate themselves on passing the ball as Siena sits atop the conference leaderboard in terms of assists per game (3.43) in league games
Team defense has slipped recently as Siena ranks sixth in goals-against average (1.26) while they rank first in the MAAC in offside calls per game (4.43)
Depth of scoring is a key for this Siena side as nine different players have scored at least one goal this season while 12 players have registered at least one point
Michele Tremblay is the team's leading scorer with a team-high six goals and 15 points
Madison Vasquez (5G, 3A) and Kelsey Horst (3G, 5A) also come in with double digit point totals in 2016
The program's all-time assists leader Tara Sobierajski is the catalyst for this offensive attack as she leads the team with six assists on the season and 21 for her career
The team's primary goalkeeper is Taylor Dorado who comes in with a 5-4-2 record, 1.15 GAA, .725 save percentage and 37 saves in nearly 1110 minutes

PLAYOFF PICTURE
With two conference games remaining on the schedule, a win over Siena would clinch an automatic bid into the MAAC Tournament for the Bobcats. Currently tied for third in the MAAC table with 15 points, a Quinnipiac victory would give the Bobcats 18 points with one game remaining. If the Bobcats were to win-out in the regular season, the worst Quinnipiac could do in the league standings would be third place with 21 points. The No. 3 and 4 seeds in the MAAC Tournament receive homefield advantage in the quarterfinal round.

KEEPING HER TEAM ALIVE
Freshman keeper Olivia Myszewski played one of the best games of her young career at Monmouth as she tallied seven saves while facing nine shots on-target and 17 overall as she kept her team alive in a 2-1 overtime loss to the traditional power. After not totaling more than four saves in a MAAC game prior to the last two-game stretch, Myszewski has matched her season high with seven saves in consecutive games against Iona and Monmouth.

MANAGING MONMOUTH
Despite falling to Monmouth, 2-1, away from home on Saturday, the Bobcats played one of their best games of the season as the undefeated MAAC juggernaut saw one of their league games go into overtime for the first time in 2016. The Bobcats also managed to score first in the second half which marked the first time the Hawks had trailed in a conference game all season. Monmouth had also come into Saturday's meeting riding a six-game unbeaten streak in which the Hawks had outscored teams 28-2 (+26 in goal differential).

WIN PARADE
Quinnipiac's longest win streak since the 2007 season was snapped at Monmouth on Saturday as the Bobcats' fifth straight win and seventh straight at home. The Bobcats' five-game win streak stands as the longest for Quinnipiac in a single-season since an eight-game unbeaten streak back in the 2007 season.

SHUTOUT STREAK
Quinnipiac saw its shutout streak come to an end last Wednesday in a 3-2 win over Iona. After allowing a Fairfield goal with 26:47 remaining in the second half, the Bobcats held three straight opponents scoreless until Iona struck in the 71^st minute. The three-game shutout span is tied for the second-longest in program history as the Bobcats last accomplished that feat in the 2012 season. The scoreless streak of 367:15 ranks as the second-longest in program history as the record came back in the 1999 season where the Bobcats held their opposition off the scoresheet for four consecutive games.

OFFENSIVE JUGERNAUTS
The offensive side of the ball has been the Bobcats' forte all season long as Quinnipiac comes into Wednesday's contest ranking second in the MAAC in goals (30), goals per game (2.00) and points per game (6.40) as well as first in assists (36) and assists per game (2.40). Nadya Gill (8G, 3A), Jess Fontaine (4G, 9A), and Ally Grunstein (4G, 6A) all rank in the top 10 in the MAAC in points and points per game while Gill is tied for the league-lead in game-winning goals with three. At least two Bobcats are ranked in the top 10 of every major offensive statistical category in the conference.

POINTS ALL AROUND
Continuing on the offensive theme, 15 different Bobcats have registered at least one point this season, a total that easily leads the MAAC. The only conference foes to see as many as 10 players notch at least one point in 2016 is Monmouth (13), Siena (12), Canisius (12), Marist (11), Rider (10) and Iona (10).

FONTAINE OF YOUTH
One more assist for Jess Fontaine coming in a 2-1 loss to Monmouth gives her 17 points (four goals, eight assists) on the season. Her team and MAAC-leading nine assists on the season not only lead both categories but her assist total is tied for fourth in the nation while she is tied for sixth in assists per game (0.60). Fontaine saw her career-long four-game point streak snapped against Iona but she managed to post eight points (two goals, four assists) in that career-long scoring span.

SINGLE-SEASON SUCCESS
Dishing out assists has been Jess Fontaine's forte all season long as she comes into Wednesday's contest with nine through 15 games. With still two regular season games remaining, Fontaine's 2016 assist total is currently tied for fifth on the all-time single-season record list at Quinnipiac and is second in the program's Div. I history (since 1998). Kirsten Van de Van's 2004 total of 11 ranks first since Quinnipiac joined the Div. I ranks.

MOVIN ON UP
With her one assists against Monmouth, Jess Fontaine continues to move up the Top 10 all-time career record list at Quinnipiac with 20 career assists. She now sits in sole possession of fifth place all-time in career assists at Quinnipiac. The four players ahead of Fontaine on the all-time leaderboard all graduated prior to 2001, giving Fontaine the most assists by a single-player in the last 15 years and the most-ever by a four-year Division I Bobcat as Quinnipiac moved into the NCAA Div. I ranks in 1998.

LITTLE AL DOING BIG THINGS
Sophomore forward Al Pelletier had herself a dominant performance in the Bobcats' 3-0 win over Canisius as she notched one goal and one assist, including her second game-winning tally of the season. After going for three points in the season-opening 2-1 win over Toledo (8/19), Pelletier had only notched one goal in a span of nine games before her first career multi-assist game came against Marist (10/1). Just one year removed from recording one goal in 10 games played during her rookie season, Pelletier has been incredible in 2016 with 10 points on three goals and four assists.

HEAVYWEIGHTS AT HOME
Quinnipiac ran its home unbeaten streak to seven straight to open 2016 with a 3-2 victory over Iona on Wednesday. Currently, the Bobcats are the lone team in the MAAC that hasn't lost at home in 2016. With the 7-0 record in Hamden this season, the Bobcats now own the second-longest home unbeaten streak to start a season in program history. Quinnipiac rolled with a record of 11-0 at home in 1999 which stands as the lone season in program history in which the Bobcats finished unbeaten in a single-season at home.

NEWFOUND DEFENSIVE IDENTITY
Quinnipiac hasn't seen their defense perform better all season than in the last six-game stretch as the Bobcats have allowed just five goals in the last six games and posted shutouts in three-of-six contests. Since making a move to put Jess Gargan at center back and Mackenzie Tibball at left fullback, the Bobcats have scored a record of 5-1 and excelled defensively. Opponents combine for 58 shots (9.7 per game) and 30 on-target (5.0 per game) in that time frame.

FIRST ON THE BOARD
Scoring first has been one of the biggest indicators to the Bobcats' success in 2016 as Quinnipiac has scored the game's first goal in all nine of their wins this season. Overall on the season, Quinnipiac is 9-3 in games in which the Bobcats have scored first while their record stands 0-2-1 in the three games where the opponent opens the scoring.

UTILIZING THE YOUTH
Through 15 games in 2016, 19 of the 30 (63.3 percent) Bobcat goals on the season have been scored by underclassmen. Sophomores Nadya Gill (eight), Al Pelletier (three), Katrina Friedman (two) and Madison Borowiec (two) combine with freshmen Ally Grunstein (four) for 18 of the team's goals this season. The upperclassmen to score in 2016 have been Jess Fontaine (four), Sarah Pandolfi (three), Kelly Caruso (three) and Carly Glaser (one).

WEEKLY AWARD RUN
Quinnipiac currently leads all MAAC teams with three combined Rookie of the Week honors while Olivia Myszewski most-recently won the first Defensive Player of the Week award for the Bobcats since Oct. 28, 2013. The Bobcats are currently tied with Rider for the most total weekly award (five) this season.

Offensive Player of the Week – Sarah Pandolfi (Sept. 5)
Defensive Player of the Week – Olivia Myszewski (Oct. 10)
Rookie of the Week – Olivia Myszewski (Aug. 22), Ally Grunstein (Aug. 29, Oct. 3)

CRAZY RESULT
Quinnipiac's 1-0 road win over Manhattan was significant on many levels as the decision marked the first 1-0 league win since the Bobcats defeated Manhattan by the same score at home back on Oct. 23, 2013 (25 games ago). An even more impressive mark is the one-goal win marked the first 1-0 league road victory for the Bobcats since defeating Central Connecticut State as a member of the Northeast Conference, 1-0, back on Oct. 21, 2001 (72 games ago).

POWERFUL PLAYMAKER
A sensation in her first season as a Bobcat, freshman Ally Grunstein sits third on the team with 14 points on four goals and six assists. Dynamic with the ball, Grunstein has done her damage primarily off the bench as she ranks 10^th on the team among field players in minutes played (744) and has started only five-of-15 games in 2016.

CAPTAIN CLUTCH
Nadya Gill continues to show a flair for the dramatic as her tally in the 53^rd minute at Manhattan served as game-winner in a 1-0 victory for the Bobcats. That game-winning tally stands as her team-leading fifth goal of 2016 and third game-winner of the season. Through 32 games in her career, Gill has accumulated 16 goals and six assists for 38 points (1.19 per game). Incredibly, eight of Gill's 16 career goals (50 percent) have gone down as game-winners.

HARPING ON THE D
Quinnipiac put on a defensive clinic in a 3-0 win over Marist as the Bobcats shutout a team averaging 1.90 goals per game heading into the contest while holding the Red Foxes to just seven total shots including one in the first half. The leading scorer in the MAAC coming into play – Camille Bowen (9 G, 1A) – was held without a shot for just the second time all season.

GARGANTUAN MOVE
After struggling with injuries throughout non-conference play, 2015 MAAC All-Rookie Team selection Jess Gargan moved to the center back position for the last four games and has helped turn around the Bobcat defense which has allowed just five goals in the those six contests. Gargan has also tallied two assists from her new defensive positioning to pick up her first points of 2016.

FOR THE FIRST TIME
Primarily a role player throughout her career, Carly Glaser had a shining moment in the Bobcats' 3-0 win over Marist as the junior punched home her first career goal in the 43^rd minute to start the scoring in the team's three-goal victory. Playing in her 29^th career game, Glaser recorded her first career tally which ultimately went down as the game-winning goal on the afternoon. She joins Nadya Gill from last season as the first Bobcats since Furtuna Velaj '12 in 2008 to see their first career goal be a game-winner.

CARUSO CARRESSING IT IN
Kelly Caruso opened the scoring with a penalty kick tally in the Bobcats' 2-1 win over Fairfield, a goal that stands as the first penalty kick for Quinnipiac on the season. A free kick specialist, Caruso lined up her shot and drove the ball to the lower right corner as she remains a perfect three-for-three on penalty kicks in her four-year career.

UNCOMMON RESULT
Nadya Gill's tally in the 19^th minute, coupled with a stellar defensive showing from the Bobcats' back line, helped lead the way to a 1-0 victory over Bryant (9/6). Quinnipiac's second clean sheet of 2016 (3-0 vs. UMass Lowell – Aug. 23, 2016) stands as the first 1-0 win for the Bobcats since defeating Vermont by the same score at home back on Sept. 13, 2014. The 1-0 result also marked the first time that the Bobcats have won 1-0 on the road since defeating Holy Cross on Sept. 2, 2012.

IT ALL PANS OUT
A missed 2015 season for Sarah Pandolfi had the Bobcats dealing with the loss of one of the team's main strikers. Two years removed from being just one of two Bobcats to start all 17 games in 2014, Pandolfi blasted home her first goal as a Bobcat in a 3-0 win over UMass Lowell. She recently followed with a career high five points (two goals, one assist) in a 6-2 win over Delaware State to earn her MAAC Offensive Player of the Week honors. A transfer from UMass, Pandolfi finished her freshman year as a Minutewoman with two goals and two assists before transferring to Quinnipiac prior to the start of 2014. In her 2014 season, Pandolfi led the team with 35 shots while adding two assists in her 17 games.

GOALS GALORE
A six-goal outburst carried Quinnipiac past Delaware State (9/4) in dominating fashion, 6-2. Coming into play with an already lethal scoring attack, the Bobcats only padded their stats as Quinnipiac now has 26 goals through 13 games in 2016 for a per-game average of 2.00. The second-highest scoring team in the MAAC reached six goals in a single-game for the first time since defeating Fairfield Dickinson, 6-0, back on Oct. 31, 2010 – the last time Quinnipiac tallied more than six goals in a single-game came all the way back in 1999 when the Bobcats defeated Iona, 7-0.

ASSISTED LIVING
Helping factor into the six-goal explosion against Delaware State was a total of nine assists as a team for the Bobcats which stands as the most accumulated in a single-game in the program's Div. I history. Led by Ally Grunstein's single-game Div. I record three assists, seven players in all racked up at least one helper in the six-goal scoring spree. As a team, the Bobcats have racked up 32 assists through 15 games for a per-game average (2.46) that sits tied for ninth in the nation.

DOUBLE DIPPING
Ally Grunstein factored heavily in the decision against NJIT (8/26) as her first two career goals helped lift the Bobcats to a 2-2 draw after trailing the Highlanders 2-0 midway through the first half. Grunstein immediately vaulted up to a tie with Nadya Gill for first on the team in points and goals while she joins Gill as just the second freshman since 2009 to post a multi-goal game in their freshman campaign.

OVERCOMING THE ODDS
The Bobcats' 2-2 draw against NJIT not only kept Quinnipiac undefeated but it signaled one of the more significant results in recent memory. Prior to Friday's draw, the last time the Bobcats erased a two-goal deficit to either tie or win a game came all the way back on Oct. 3, 2008 when Quinnipiac defeated Robert Morris, 4-3, in double overtime. The near eight-year run spanned an incredible 119 matches since the Bobcats last accomplished the feat.

MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE
Devan Malcolm earned the starting nod for the Bobcats against UMass Lowell and delivered in what was her first career appearance. The sophomore keeper notched five saves to not only pick up the win but also record a clean sheet in her collegiate debut. She became the first Quinnipiac goalkeeper to post a shutout in their first career appearance since Class of 2016 graduate Natalia Grodzki recorded a two-save shutout in her debut against NJIT back on Sept. 7, 2012.

THREE'S COMPANY
Three different goal scorers filled the stat sheet for Quinnipiac as Nadya Gill, Sarah Pandolfi and Madison Borowiec picked up the goals for the Bobcats in a 3-0 win over UMass Lowell. Gill recorded her second goal of 2016 as well as the 10^th of her career and sixth game-winning goal in 19 career appearances. After missing the entire 2015 campaign due to injury, Pandolfi blasted home her first career goal as a Bobcat in the win while Borowiec registered her second career goal and is now tied for second on the team in points with three.

ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS
After just one appearance, freshman keeper Olivia Myszewski has already made a little history as her seven saves goes down as the most by a Bobcat goalkeeper in their first career appearance in the program's Div. I era (since 1998). Myszewski's seven saves are the most since Elizabeth Cook notched six in her first career appearance. Myszewski also became the first Bobcat keeper to pick up the victory in a victory in their first career start since Cook helped lead Quinnipiac to a double overtime 1-0 victory back on Oct. 4, 2009.