Saputo Finds Net, Bobcats Drop Season Opener at Missouri State

Thursday, August 20

Springfield, Mo

8:00 PM EST (7:00 PM CST)

Quinnipiac University

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Missouri State

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Quinnipiac	0	1	1
Missouri St.	2	1	3

Photo by: Izzy DiBari

Saputo Finds Net, Bobcats Drop Season Opener at Missouri State

8/20/2026 10:50:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Joey Saputo opened the scoring account for the 2026 Quinnipiac men's soccer program but it was not enough as the Bobcats fell to host Missouri State 3-1 on Thursday night on opening night of the NCAA Men's Soccer season.

After the hosts scored the first two, the grad student slotted home Quinnipiac's first tally of the season to cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 52^nd minute. The Bobcats would not find an equalizer, as the Bears would score an 80^th minute tally to put the game out of reach at 3-1.

The visiting Bobcats were able to apply more pressure in the second half, outshooting and out-cornering their hosts in the final 45 minutes.

STATS AND NOTES

Saputo's goal is his first of the season and sixth of his career. His six career goals are second-most by a current Bobcat.
He also led the team with three shots on the night. Taehyeon Lim and Cameron Brooks each fired two shots.
Alexander Hansen, Niels Van Haren, Gio Corsetti and Linus Daeumler all made their first career starts for the Bobcats, playing all 90 minutes.
Zachary DaSilva, Cameron Brooks and Makai Badeau all saw the first action of their collegiate careers, entering in a substitution.
After 39 percent possession in the first half, the Bobcats saw 53 percent of the ball in the second 45 minutes.

UP NEXT
Quinnipiac comes home for its first game in Hamden on Monday, August 24 when they take on Providence. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m., and the game can be seen live on GoBobcats.com.

It is the first of four straight games in the local area, with road contests at Yale and New Haven to follow before wrapping up non-conference play at home against Stony Brook.

For an inside look at the Quinnipiac men's soccer program, be sure to follow it on social media @QU_MSOC or go to gobobcats.com/msoc.