Bobcats Meet Gaels in MAAC Quarterfinals in Hamden

Game #18: #2 Quinnipiac (12-4-1, 10-2 MAAC) vs #7 Iona Gaels (6-9-4, 4-6-2 MAAC)
MAAC Quarterfinals
Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024 | 12:00 PM
Hamden, Conn. | Quinnipiac Soccer Stadium
Watch: ESPN+ | Live Stats: Click Here | International Stream: Click Here | Tickets: Click Here

HAMDEN, Conn. – The Quinnipiac women's soccer team begins their path to their third straight MAAC Championship with a matchup with the Iona Gaels in the MAAC Quarterfinals on Sunday, November 3^rd. Kickoff from the Quinnipiac Soccer Stadium is set for 12 PM and can be seen on ESPN+.

SCOUTING THE GAELS

The Iona Gaels enter the postseason as the #7 seed in the MAAC with a 4-6-2 conference mark and a 6-9-4 overall record.
The Iona Gaels are coming off back-to-back losses to end their regular season. The Gaels fell to the Bobcats, 2-1, on Oct. 26^th and lost to Manhattan 3-0 on Wednesday, Oct. 30^th.
In their previous matchup against the Bobcats, the Gaels struck first in the 5^th minute. However, the Bobcats bounced back and netted two unanswered goals to seal the win.
Marissa Graziano leads the Gaels with 17 points, scoring six goals and registering five assists in 19 games played this season. Graziano has also netted three of her four penalty kick attempts this season.
Kayla Kalbaugh has started 13 games in goal for the Gaels while making 17 appearances this season. Kalbaugh has registered 76 total saves on 93 shots on goal.
This will mark the 15^th meeting between the two teams and second this season. Quinnipiac holds an 8-5-1 overall record against the Gaels since Sep. 5, 1999. The Bobcats are 5-1-1 on their home turf against Iona in program history.

POSTSEASON BOUND

The Bobcats clinched a berth in the 2024 MAAC Championships, their ninth straight appearance in the conference tournament.
Quinnipiac has clinched a top two seed in the MAAC Tournament, which has them hold home-field advantage through the MAAC Semi-finals.

LAST TIME OUT

The Bobcats wrapped up their regular season on the road at Fairfield and fell by a final score of 2-0 on Wednesday, Oct. 30^th.
With the loss, the Bobcats fell to 12-4-1 overall and 10-2 in conference play, giving the Bobcats the #2 seed in the MAAC Tournament.

DEFENDING MAAC CHAMPS, AGAIN

The Bobcats went 13-4-1 (9-0-1 MAAC) last season, capturing their second-straight MAAC title in Hamden on Nov. 5.
QU defeated No. 6 Rider, 1-0, in the MAAC Semifinals, then bested No. 2 Fairfield, 1-0, in the championship round to punch their second straight ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

PRESEASON FAVORITES

Quinnipiac women's soccer has been selected as the preseason MAAC favorite, as announced by the league office on Wednesday, August 7.
The Bobcats earned the No. 1 spot in the 2024 Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll, receiving ten of 13 first-place votes and 166 total points.
Quinnipiac saw three student-athletes named to the preseason All-MAAC team. Midfielder Ella Gagno, Defender Madison Mandleur, and the 2023 MAAC Golden Boot Award winner Courtney Chochol received those honors.

HEAD COACH DAVE CLARKE

Head Coach Dave Clarke enters his 26^th season with the Bobcats in 2024. Clarke is 231-198-46 over his career as a collegiate head coach (2 seasons at New Haven before QU).
Clarke has firmly cemented himself as one of the premier college coaches in the NCAA's highest division. He effectively etched his signature on Quinnipiac soccer by becoming not only the winningest coach in its history but also leading his team to an NCAA Tournament berth in 2000 and a regular season championship in 2001.
The Bobcats then won their second straight MAAC Championship in 2024, which is their second MAAC Title in program history.

STAY GOLDEN

Just a season ago, Courtney Chochol was named the 2023 MAAC Golden Boot Award winner as she wrapped up the regular season with 23 points (7 goals and 9 assists).
Sofia Lospinoso earned the MAAC Golden Glove for the conference's top goalkeeper. Lospinoso was tied for second in the MAAC with six shutouts and had a goals-against average of 1.05.

STRONG RETURNING GROUP

The Bobcats return 7 of their top 10 scorers from a season ago – led by Courtney Chochol (eight goals and nine assists in 2023).
QU returns three All-MAAC First Team honorees from a season ago: Courtney Chochol (Forward), Sofia Lospinoso (Goalkeeper), and Madison Mandleur (Defender).
Victoria Foster (Defender) and Ella Gagno (Midfielder) were named to the All-MAAC Second Team and will return to Hamden for the 2024 season.

HOME COOKING

Quinnipiac posted a 7-2 record at home last season but went a perfect 5-0 at home during MAAC regular season play.
The Bobcats outscored opponents 30-8 on their home turf in the 2023 season.

THE '24 SCHEDULE

The defending MAAC champions will play 17 regular season games in total – hosting nine contests at the QU Soccer Stadium in Hamden. The Bobcats will also host an exhibition contest vs. the University of New Hampshire before the start of the 2024 campaign.
Quinnipiac will open the regular season on Thursday, Aug. 25, as they welcome the Hofstra Pride to Hamden. The Bobcats continue the non-league slate with two straight road contests, at Georgetown (Aug. 22) and at Stonehill (Aug. 29) before wrapping up non-conference play vs. Albany (Sep. 1) and vs LIU (Sep. 11).
MAAC play begins on Saturday, Sept. 7, as the Bobcats will welcome MAAC newcomer, Sacred Heart to the QU Soccer Stadium. After a non-conference matchup vs LIU, the Bobcats will host the Siena Saints on Sep. 21. QU will hit the road for the first time in MAAC Play as they travel to take on Saint Peter's (Sep. 28).
The month of October begins with a road contest at Rider (Oct. 2) before heading home for two straight games, vs. Niagara (Oct. 5) and vs. Marist (Oct. 9). After traveling to Buffalo, NY to battle Canisius (Oct. 12), QU will return home to welcome Merrimack on Oct. 16.
After a two-game road trip, at Mount St. Mary's (Oct. 19) and at Manhattan (Oct. 23), the Bobcats will play their final home game of the regular season vs. Iona (Oct. 26).
QU wraps up their regular season slate as they travel to in-state rival Fairfield for a rematch of the 2023 MAAC Championship (Oct. 30).

To stay up to date with Quinnipiac Women's Soccer news, follow the Bobcats on Twitter/Instagram @QU_WSOC or visit www.gobobcats.com/wsoc.

Schedule

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Players Mentioned

Courtney Chochol

Courtney Chochol

Victoria Foster

Ella Gagno

Sofia Lospinoso

Madison Mandleur

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Upcoming Events

Upcoming Event: Women's Soccer at Marist on Oct. 8, 2025 at 2:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Women's Soccer versus Canisius on Oct. 11, 2025 at 12:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Women's Soccer at Sacred Heart on Oct. 18, 2025 at 4:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Women's Soccer at Iona on Oct. 25, 2025 at 10:00 AM