Saturday, September 5
Hamden, Conn.
12:00 PM
Quinnipiac University
2-2-1, 0-1-0
2
vs
3
Niagara
4-1-0, 1-0-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Niagara | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Quinnipiac | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Photo by: Rob Rasmussen / P8Photos.com
Women's Soccer Drops Conference Opener to Niagara
9/5/2026 4:51:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Hamden, Conn. – For the first time since the 2021 season, the Quinnipiac Bobcats dropped a regular-season home conference game, falling to the Niagara Purple Eagles, 3-2, on Saturday afternoon in Hamden.
In the 29th minute, the Bobcats were awarded a penalty kick, and Morgan Cupo took full advantage of the opportunity, slotting home her fourth goal of the season.
Just over seven minutes later, the Bobcats were given their second penalty kick of the game, and Cupo stepped up to take it again. The forward beat the keeper to the right side of the cage to score her second goal of the contest.
Quinnipiac came out of the halftime break with a two-goal lead, but Niagara made it just a one-goal game 45 seconds into the second half.
With the Purple Eagles trailing, a review determined that there was a foul in the box and Niagara would be awarded a penalty kick. Caitlyn Gratton took the opportunity and knotted the game up at two.
In the 79th minute, the Purple Eagles scored their third straight goal as Naiya Johnston earned the game-winning goal.
FINAL SCORE
Niagara 3, Quinnipiac 2
LOCATION
Quinnipiac Soccer & Lacrosse Stadium | Hamden, Connecticut
RECORDS
Quinnipiac (2-2-1, 0-1-0 Metro) | Niagara (4-1-0, 1-0-0 Metro)
COACH'S CORNER
"Disappointed with the loss. Disappointed that we were two-nil up, even though we hadn't played well. Disappointed that it's, you know, a home loss, the first one in four to five years in the regular season. And then it just puts us a little bit behind the eight ball in terms of looking ahead head-to-head down the road, but, yeah, not a good day at the office." – Quinnipiac Women's Soccer Head Coach Dave Clarke
NOTES
In the 29th minute, the Bobcats were awarded a penalty kick, and Morgan Cupo took full advantage of the opportunity, slotting home her fourth goal of the season.
Cupo on the spot 🎯 #BobcatNation x #metrosoccer pic.twitter.com/TaxE7pwZxS
— Quinnipiac Women's Soccer (@QU_WSOC) September 5, 2026
Just over seven minutes later, the Bobcats were given their second penalty kick of the game, and Cupo stepped up to take it again. The forward beat the keeper to the right side of the cage to score her second goal of the contest.
Oops, she did it again 😼 #BobcatNation x #metrosoccer pic.twitter.com/SfwlQcHWO3
— Quinnipiac Women's Soccer (@QU_WSOC) September 5, 2026
Quinnipiac came out of the halftime break with a two-goal lead, but Niagara made it just a one-goal game 45 seconds into the second half.
With the Purple Eagles trailing, a review determined that there was a foul in the box and Niagara would be awarded a penalty kick. Caitlyn Gratton took the opportunity and knotted the game up at two.
In the 79th minute, the Purple Eagles scored their third straight goal as Naiya Johnston earned the game-winning goal.
FINAL SCORE
Niagara 3, Quinnipiac 2
LOCATION
Quinnipiac Soccer & Lacrosse Stadium | Hamden, Connecticut
RECORDS
Quinnipiac (2-2-1, 0-1-0 Metro) | Niagara (4-1-0, 1-0-0 Metro)
COACH'S CORNER
"Disappointed with the loss. Disappointed that we were two-nil up, even though we hadn't played well. Disappointed that it's, you know, a home loss, the first one in four to five years in the regular season. And then it just puts us a little bit behind the eight ball in terms of looking ahead head-to-head down the road, but, yeah, not a good day at the office." – Quinnipiac Women's Soccer Head Coach Dave Clarke
NOTES
- Morgan Cupo scored twice in the loss, pushing her season total to five. Cupo is up to 19 goals for her collegiate career.
- Olivia Jarvis recorded three saves in the loss.
- Niagara earned five corners, while the Bobcats earned four.
- The Bobcats and Purple Eagles each recorded ten shot attempts, but Niagara led in shots on goal, 6-4.
- Chiara Peiter and Isabella Torelli each picked up a yellow card in the loss.
- Niagara defeated the Bobcats for the first time since Sep. 24, 2016 (3-0), and the first time in Hamden since the 2015 season (4-0).
- The loss marked QU's first regular-season loss at home since Sep. 17, 2023 against Princeton (4-2).
- This is Quinnipiac's first regular-season conference loss at home since October 20, 2021 (2-1 vs. Iona).
- Quinnipiac dropped their conference opener for the first time since the 2021 season (2-1 against Monmouth, Sep. 25).
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.
Gallery: (9-5-2026) Women's Soccer vs. Niagara (9/5/26)
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
NIA
QUI
Goals
3
2
Shots
10
10
Shots on Goal
6
4
Saves
2
3
Corners
5
4
Fouls
11
5
Scoring Plays
Morgan Cupo (3)
QUI Morgan Cupo PENALTY KICK GOAL.
28:17
Morgan Cupo (3)
QUI Morgan Cupo PENALTY KICK GOAL.
35:59
Caitlyn Gratton (5)
Assisted By: Naiya Johnston
GOAL by NIA Gratton, Caitlyn. Assist by Johnston, Naiya.
45:45
Caitlyn Gratton (6)
NIA Caitlyn Gratton PENALTY KICK GOAL.
59:14
Naiya Johnston (2)
Assisted By: Angelina Kristic
GOAL by NIA Johnston, Naiya Assist by Kristic, Angelina.
78:23
Game Leaders
fwd
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
2
Assists
0
fwd
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
fwd
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
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