Women's Soccer Drops Conference Opener to Niagara

Saturday, September 5

Hamden, CT

12:00 PM

Quinnipiac University

2-2-1, 0-1-0

Niagara

4-1-0, 1-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Niagara	0	3	3
Quinnipiac	2	0	2

Box Score (PDF)

Anna Bean Fights for Ball Against Niagara (Sep. 5, 2026 in Hamden, Conn.)

Photo by: Rob Rasmussen / P8Photos.com

9/5/2026 4:51:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

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 29^th 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 79^th 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).