Quinnipiac University
Columbia
QU Men's Soccer Blanks Columbia, 2-0
9/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
- Box Score
- Quinnipiac Men's Soccer Homepage
- MAAC Men's Soccer Homepage
Hamden, Conn. – The Quinnipiac men's soccer team captured their second victory of the season with a 2-0 win over Columbia. Back at home for the first time in two weeks, freshman Max Rothenbucher (Munich, Germany) and junior transfer James Greco (Long Valley, N.J.) scored their first career goals for the Bobcats.
Both teams played strong defensively in the first half with each team tallying three shots. Neither side had many scoring chances in the first 45 minutes of play, but the Bobcats turned up their attack in the second frame. In a high-intensity atmosphere, Quinnipiac was able to capitalize on their scoring chances.
The first real scoring chance came at the 58th minute mark, shortly after the Bobcats received two straight yellow cards. Rothenbucher received the ball from fellow freshman John-John Diaz (Miami, Florida) and fired a rocket over the Lions' goalkeeper's outstretched hands. Rothenbucher is a crafty midfielder who often toys with defenders and will find his teammates in tight spots. This time it was Rothenbucher on the other end, scoring from just outside the box. He notched his first goal and third point of the year after having an assist is their first win over Providence. Diaz recorded his first career point with the assist.
A transfer from Central Connecticut, Greco scored on his tenth shot of the year. Senior Raphael Carvalho (Danbury, Conn.) fed Greco in the middle of the box who pivoted to fire a strike off the far post and into the net. The junior somehow was able to get a shot off with defenders all around and find a path to the goal. Carvalho registered his second career assist and first of the season.
Saturday's matchup marked the fifth meeting between the two teams. Quinnipiac now holds a 3-1-1 record over the Columbia Lions. In 2004, the teams played to a scoreless tie at the Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium. With the series coming to Quinnipiac the following year, the Bobcats took a 4-2 victory over the Lions at the QU Soccer Field. Quinnipiac lost the next game against Columbia in 2006, falling to a score of 2-1. In 2008, the most recent action, the Bobcats won a 2-1 overtime battle.
Quinnipiac goalkeeper Borja Angoitia (Bilbao, Spain) stood poised in goal throughout the game, saving four shots and stopping any chances the Lions had. Angoitia recorded his second shutout in three games and 18th of his career. He is now four back of tying the career shutout record of 23 held by former standout, Frederick Hall. With his 24th career victory, Angoitia is only two short of Hall's record 26 victories.
With the win, Quinnipiac moves to 2-4-1 and Columbia falls to 2-2. The Bobcats needed some momentum going into conference play and will have one more game to keep it going.
Up next, Quinnipiac will play an Ivy League member for the second consecutive game. The Bobcats will take six days off before hosting Yale on Friday, Sept. 26th at 4:00 p.m. They will wrap up their home stand with the start of conference play against Niagara at the QU Soccer Field on Tuesday, Sept. 30th at 2:00 p.m.
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