Season Preview: Quinnipiac Women's Lacrosse
2/22/2021 4:00:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
Bobcats Set to Return to Action in March
HAMDEN, Conn. - It has been over 11 months since the Quinnipiac women's lacrosse team has taken the field for a regular season game. Its final game of the 2020 season was a 16-11 win over Old Dominion, the first win over a BIG EAST team in program history.
In just a few more weeks, the Bobcats long wait will come to an end as they kick off the 2021 season with an in-state matchup vs. Fairfield on March 6.
"There's an attitude of gratitude definitely on a daily basis within the program," Quinnipiac head coach Tanya Kotowicz said. "Every day, I feel like the players are getting more and more excited."
Between 10 sophomores who were only able to play in seven games in a pandemic-shortened 2020 season, and seven newcomers for this season, Quinnipiac is heading into the season with a team that is looking to grow quickly.
"We're a young team so building connections was probably our biggest priority (in the offseason) and now I think it's maturity," Kotowicz said. "We're trying to gauge how fast we can get a very young team to mature without experience."
The Bobcats attack returns graduate student Megan Szawlowski who found the back of the net 17 times in seven games last season. The group as a whole has made a lot of strides since the last game in 2020.
"Our offensive unit has grown a lot since last year when we left off our ODU win and it hasn't stopped moving in the right direction since then," Kotowicz said. "We just have a lot more weapons. Players have come back adding some tools and then new players are bringing in a whole new dynamic of skills, talent but then just personality, which I think is really important. The pace of play is starting to pick up which is really nice to see."
In the midfield, the Bobcats return a group that scored north of 50 goals a season ago. Those players, paired with three newcomers will be a group that sees a lot of players make an impact for Quinnipiac.
"We're going to run, we're going to be fast, we're going to push the tempo. What we see in that group is that they all have something to give. There's not going to be a lot of dip in play when we run our lines of midfielders," Kotowicz said. "Really it is just about maturing so we're trying to push the maturity of the younger players, we're trying to lean on some of the experience in our upperclassmen, and then put it all together, which so far it's been pretty nice.
On the defensive side for Quinnipiac, it is a mix of returners and newcomers. A group that will allow the Bobcats to build on what they have done in season's past.
"It's a new unit, we're really brand new on the defensive end. With the returners obviously they help carry over what some of the players in the past have created for us defensively, but it does give us the opportunity to expand our defensive schemes, which I think has been really fun for them, and for us as coaches and I think we're just going to be a little more aggressive and more athletic this year and moving forward," Kotowicz said.
Sophomore Kat Henselder and first year Hadley Bosworth are the two Bobcats that will handle the duties between the pipes.
"When you are a goalie and you are walking into an open position, you either sink or swim and they have both chosen to swim, "Kotowicz said. "We have a lot of talent in the cage. You can't make up experience and so really for the whole team, but especially in that goalkeeping position they need experience.
The Bobcats are looking ahead to a schedule that consists of a conference-only format. You can view the full 2021 schedule HERE.
To stay up to date with everything Quinnipiac women's lacrosse, follow the program on social media @QU_WLAX, or visit gobobcats.com.
In just a few more weeks, the Bobcats long wait will come to an end as they kick off the 2021 season with an in-state matchup vs. Fairfield on March 6.
"There's an attitude of gratitude definitely on a daily basis within the program," Quinnipiac head coach Tanya Kotowicz said. "Every day, I feel like the players are getting more and more excited."
Between 10 sophomores who were only able to play in seven games in a pandemic-shortened 2020 season, and seven newcomers for this season, Quinnipiac is heading into the season with a team that is looking to grow quickly.
"We're a young team so building connections was probably our biggest priority (in the offseason) and now I think it's maturity," Kotowicz said. "We're trying to gauge how fast we can get a very young team to mature without experience."
The Bobcats attack returns graduate student Megan Szawlowski who found the back of the net 17 times in seven games last season. The group as a whole has made a lot of strides since the last game in 2020.
"Our offensive unit has grown a lot since last year when we left off our ODU win and it hasn't stopped moving in the right direction since then," Kotowicz said. "We just have a lot more weapons. Players have come back adding some tools and then new players are bringing in a whole new dynamic of skills, talent but then just personality, which I think is really important. The pace of play is starting to pick up which is really nice to see."
In the midfield, the Bobcats return a group that scored north of 50 goals a season ago. Those players, paired with three newcomers will be a group that sees a lot of players make an impact for Quinnipiac.
"We're going to run, we're going to be fast, we're going to push the tempo. What we see in that group is that they all have something to give. There's not going to be a lot of dip in play when we run our lines of midfielders," Kotowicz said. "Really it is just about maturing so we're trying to push the maturity of the younger players, we're trying to lean on some of the experience in our upperclassmen, and then put it all together, which so far it's been pretty nice.
On the defensive side for Quinnipiac, it is a mix of returners and newcomers. A group that will allow the Bobcats to build on what they have done in season's past.
"It's a new unit, we're really brand new on the defensive end. With the returners obviously they help carry over what some of the players in the past have created for us defensively, but it does give us the opportunity to expand our defensive schemes, which I think has been really fun for them, and for us as coaches and I think we're just going to be a little more aggressive and more athletic this year and moving forward," Kotowicz said.
Sophomore Kat Henselder and first year Hadley Bosworth are the two Bobcats that will handle the duties between the pipes.
"When you are a goalie and you are walking into an open position, you either sink or swim and they have both chosen to swim, "Kotowicz said. "We have a lot of talent in the cage. You can't make up experience and so really for the whole team, but especially in that goalkeeping position they need experience.
The Bobcats are looking ahead to a schedule that consists of a conference-only format. You can view the full 2021 schedule HERE.
To stay up to date with everything Quinnipiac women's lacrosse, follow the program on social media @QU_WLAX, or visit gobobcats.com.
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Lacrosse
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Lacrosse
Attack
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