QU Women’s Soccer Picks Up Decisive 1-0 Road Win over Manhattan

Wednesday, October 5

Gaelic Park - Riverdale, NY

7:00 PM

Quinnipiac University

7-4-1, 3-2MAAC

Manhattan

4-8-0, 2-3MAAC

Quinnipiac

Manhattan

QU Women’s Soccer Picks Up Decisive 1-0 Road Win over Manhattan

10/5/2016 10:10:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Bobcats Record First MAAC Road Win of 2016, Pick Up Second Straight Clean Sheet

By: QU Sports Information

RIVERDALE, New York – Eying their first MAAC road win of the season, the Quinnipiac women's soccer team came into Gaelic Park and picked up a convincing 1-0 victory over Manhattan on Wednesday night. Quinnipiac's third straight win, second straight clean sheet and first league win on the road improves the Bobcats' overall mark to 7-4-1 and 3-2 in the MAAC. The Jaspers fell for the second straight game and drop to 4-8 overall and 2-3 in conference.

Nadya Gill (Toronto, Ontario) continues to have a flair for the dramatics as she netted the lone goal on the evening in the 53^rd minute. Gill's team-leading fifth tally of the season gives her three game-winners in 2016 and eight for her career. Just in her sophomore season playing in her 29^th game, Gill has amassed an amazing total as eight of Gill's 13 career tallies have gone down as game-winners.

Much credit for the result goes to the Bobcats' defensive line – Jess Cascio (Hebron, Connecticut), Jess Gargan (Dublin, Ireland), Mackenzie Tibball (West Hartford, Connecticut), Caroline DeBonis (Queens, New York) and Katrina Friedman (Syosset, New York) – who held Manhattan to just five attempted shots including only one that landed on-target throughout the 90 minutes of action. Olivia Myszewski (Elm Grove, Wisconsin) benefitted largely in net as she was challenged just once on the night, making one save to record her second straight clean sheet and fourth win of the season.

Since making the move to put Gargan and Tibball on the primary back line three games ago, Quinnipiac has allowed just one goal in 270 minutes and has held opponents scoreless for a season-high 206:47 consecutive minutes.

A largely uneventful first half saw the Bobcats outshoot the Japers, 8-2, and control possession but weren't able to generate quality scoring chances. Much like the last year's 1-0 overtime loss to Manhattan, Quinnipiac controlled the pace of play and shots weighed heavily in their favor but the Jasper back line withstood the early pressure.

The back-breaking goal that came alongside the run of play came early in the second half as Jess Fontaine (Enfield, Connecticut) created an opportunity out of nothing as she possessed and worked her way inside the box. Initially passing on a shot attempt, she chose to carry in close to the end line before whipping a low centering pass that deflected off the Manhattan keeper's hands to Gill just a few feet away. With no marked defender on her, Gill had time to set up her shot and the striker made no mistake as she buried the goal.

Myszewski was tested just once throughout the defensive struggle and she came through in flying colors, saving the win and three points for her team. With less than 10 minutes remaining, Arianna Montefusco took a shot from distance that was curling the whole way towards Myszewski's right. As the ball hit the turf in front of Myszewski, the freshman keeper reacted quickly enough to turn aside a tricky shot that bounced awkwardly in front of the cage.

After limiting the Jaspers to just one shot on-target in 2015, the Bobcat defense held serve again and frustrated Manhattan throughout as the home side generated just one shot on-target for the second straight game against Quinnipiac.

The decision also 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 Wednesday's win marked the first 1-0 league road victory for the Bobcats since defeating Central Connecticut State, 1-0, back on Oct. 21, 2001 (72 games ago).

A key win in terms of the MAAC table, the Bobcats move into a tie for fourth place with nine points at the midway point of their 2016 league schedule.

Quinnipiac has another big matchup next on the schedule as the Bobcats welcome Canisius for Senior Day on Saturday at 1 PM. The friendly confines of the QU Soccer Field has served the Bobcats well all season as they remain the only undefeated team at home in the MAAC this season at 5-0.