Thursday, March 16
Fresno State Soccer & Lacrosse Field - Fresno, CA
6:00 PM (EST)
Quinnipiac University
at
Fresno State
QU Women's Lacrosse Concludes California Trip at Fresno State on Thursday
3/15/2017 12:35:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
Bobcats Will Face Fresno State for First Time in Program History
Quinnipiac Bobcats (1-4, 0-0 MAAC) at
Fresno State Bulldogs (5-2, 0-1 MPSF)
Thursday, March 16, 2017 – 3:00 PM (PT), 6:00 PM (ET)
Soccer & Lacrosse Stadium – Fresno, CA
All-Time Series vs. Fresno State: First All-Time Meeting
Follow the Game
Live Stats: GoBulldogs.com
Live Video: GoBulldogs.com
Twitter: @QU_WLAX
The Quinnipiac women's lacrosse team continues its West Coast swing as the Bobcats look to make the most of their spring break journey, finishing up their two-game stay at Fresno State on Thursday (6:00 PM EST). This trip marks the first time in nine years the Bobcats have flown to California. The last trip out west the team took came in 2012 when the Bobcats flew to Denver, Colorado to face St. Mary's (Calif.) and Denver. Quinnipiac will be meeting the Bulldogs for the first time in program history.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
In just their ninth season as a varsity program, Fresno State is in the midst of their best season in program history as the Bulldogs are rolling off to a 5-2 start to the 2017 season. After six straight seasons of no more than three wins (2009-14), Fresno State has steadily improved to four wins in 2015, five wins in 2016 and already five wins in seven games in 2017. Currently in the midst of their best start in program history, Fresno State's five wins include victories over LIU Brooklyn, Stetson, Mercer, Presbyterian and Colgate while their two losses have come against quality programs in Oregon and Coastal Carolina. In the midst of a staggering six-game home stand, the Bulldogs come in having struggled slightly of late going 2-2 in their last four games after starting the season on a three-game unbeaten streak. Fresno State plays an attacking defense that piles up 11.86 caused turnovers per game which ranks ninth-best in the country. A very balanced offensive attack features four players each with at least 20 points through seven games this season. Tiffiny Wallace leads the way with 29 points while also leading the team with 22 goals and seven assists. Sarah Bloise adds 15 goals and seven assists for 22 points while Marina Mayo (15-6-21) and Kayla Galet (15-5-20) are all at least at the 20-point mark for the season. Kyleigh Westgarth headlines the defensive unit as she leads the team in ground balls (15), caused turnovers (11) and draw controls (30). Laurel Maunder is the primary goalkeeper as she comes in with 11.05 goals-against average, .464 save percentage and 58 saves through seven games this season.
NEW SEASON…NEW TEAM
Trailing by three in the second half, Quinnipiac answered with five straight goals to catapult the Bobcats out front and ultimately to a season-opening 10-9 victory over CCSU (2/18). A resounding come-from-behind victory to open the career of first-year head coach Tanya Kotowicz at Quinnipiac, the victory stands as the first win in a season opener for the Bobcats since defeating UConn, 11-10, all the way back in the 2009 season (seven straight season-opening losses prior to tonight's win). Incredibly, Quinnipiac's win marks just the fourth victory in a season opener in the 19 seasons since joining the NCAA Div. I ranks (1999).
SHUTTING THE DOOR
Junior goalkeeper Kyle Larkin played one of the best games of her career on Sunday as she racked up a career high 16 saves in a loss to UC Davis (3/12). Posting 11 of her 16 saves in the first half alone, Larkin surpassed her previous career high of 14 from a road game at Siena last season. Larkin has been stellar over the last two games as she has accumulated 27 saves (13.5 per game) over that span, giving her 10 double digit save outings for her career.
INSTANT IMPACT
Quinnipiac fought hard in a 12-8 non-conference road loss to Sacred Heart (3/1), rattling off four straight goals to trail just 8-7 with 8:27 remaining and a huge spark in the run came from a Bobcat making her first career appearance. Missing the entire 2016 season and the first two games of 2017 due to injury, sophomore Kaitlin Unser took the field for the first time in her career against the Pioneers and immediately scored consecutive goals within the 4-0 run. Unser's goal scoring ability seen frequently in high school (139 career goals for Smithtown High School in New York) was ever-present in her first collegiate appearance.
COMEBACK CATS
The thunderous three-goal second half comeback win over CCSU (2/18) marked the first time Quinnipiac overcame a three-goal deficit to win since falling behind 3-0 against Iona to come back and win 15-9 on April 9, 2014 (36 games ago). The last time Quinnipiac overcame a three-goal second half deficit came against Manhattan on March 29, 2014 (38 games ago) as the Bobcats trailed 10-6 before coming all the way back to win 12-11.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Quinnipiac scored 10 goals in their season-opening victory over CCSU, a plateau the Bobcats reached only once in 16 games last season. Out of the 10 total goals scored, six were tallied by freshmen (Ashley Bobinski 4, Kayla Moreau 1, Brianna Fitzgerald) while nine were tallied by underclassmen (sophomore Allison Kuhn scored three goals). As a team, Quinnipiac posted 17 total points (10 goals, seven assists), 12 of which (70.6 percent) were scored by underclassmen.
SECOND HALF SUCCESS
Trailing 7-5 at the half, Quinnipiac stepped up their play considerably in the second half, outscoring CCSU 5-2 in the final 30 minutes of play to secure the come-from-behind 10-9 victory (2/18). Keying a 5-0 second half run that paved the way to victory was the Bobcat defense, who notched seven of the 10 total team saves in the second half alone. Goalkeeper Kyle Larkin tallied nine saves in the cage (six in the second half), including four straight (two on free position attempts) over a span of 4+ minutes down the stretch with the Bobcats leading by two. Brianna Fitzgerald also made a stellar defensive play, diving in front of a free position shot after Larkin was whistled for a foul and had to leave her cage, late in the game to preserve the thrilling win.
INSTANT IMPACT
Ashley Bobinski's first career game certainly stands out as one to remember as she scored four goals on four shots to make her the highest-scoring rookie in her debut as a Bobcat in program history. The last rookie to post a hat trick in her debut with Quinnipiac came back in 2012 as Kyra Ochwat tallied three goals against UConn. Bobinski scored three times, securing her hat trick after 17 minutes of play, which she added one more in the second half to give her a team-leading four tallies while igniting the game-deciding 5-0 second half run.
KUHN COMING THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH
Allison Kuhn was incredibly clutch for the Bobcats, either scoring or assisting on four of five unanswered goals for Quinnipiac including scoring the ultimate game-winner that put the Bobcats ahead 10-8 against CCSU (2/18). The Bobcats' leading returning scorer from last season (27 points – 19 goals, eight assists) tied for the team-lead in points in the victory while she added two draw controls and one caused turnover.
NEW LEADERSHIP
The 2017 season marks the first year under the leadership of new head coach Tanya Kotowicz. Kotowicz comes to Quinnipiac with a wealth of NCAA Division I women's lacrosse coaching experience, most recently as the head coach at Central Connecticut State University for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Before being hired as the CCSU head coach, Kotowicz was the top assistant at Yale from 2012 through 2014 and Hofstra from 2008 through 2012. Before taking the position at Hofstra, Kotowicz was the head coach at Quinnipiac's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference foe Marist in 2008 and an assistant at Saint Mary's College of California from 2006 to 2008. Kotowicz played collegiately at UConn, serving as a two-time team captain in 2004 and 2005, leading the program to an ECAC Championship in 2005.
Fresno State Bulldogs (5-2, 0-1 MPSF)
Thursday, March 16, 2017 – 3:00 PM (PT), 6:00 PM (ET)
Soccer & Lacrosse Stadium – Fresno, CA
All-Time Series vs. Fresno State: First All-Time Meeting
Follow the Game
Live Stats: GoBulldogs.com
Live Video: GoBulldogs.com
Twitter: @QU_WLAX
The Quinnipiac women's lacrosse team continues its West Coast swing as the Bobcats look to make the most of their spring break journey, finishing up their two-game stay at Fresno State on Thursday (6:00 PM EST). This trip marks the first time in nine years the Bobcats have flown to California. The last trip out west the team took came in 2012 when the Bobcats flew to Denver, Colorado to face St. Mary's (Calif.) and Denver. Quinnipiac will be meeting the Bulldogs for the first time in program history.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
In just their ninth season as a varsity program, Fresno State is in the midst of their best season in program history as the Bulldogs are rolling off to a 5-2 start to the 2017 season. After six straight seasons of no more than three wins (2009-14), Fresno State has steadily improved to four wins in 2015, five wins in 2016 and already five wins in seven games in 2017. Currently in the midst of their best start in program history, Fresno State's five wins include victories over LIU Brooklyn, Stetson, Mercer, Presbyterian and Colgate while their two losses have come against quality programs in Oregon and Coastal Carolina. In the midst of a staggering six-game home stand, the Bulldogs come in having struggled slightly of late going 2-2 in their last four games after starting the season on a three-game unbeaten streak. Fresno State plays an attacking defense that piles up 11.86 caused turnovers per game which ranks ninth-best in the country. A very balanced offensive attack features four players each with at least 20 points through seven games this season. Tiffiny Wallace leads the way with 29 points while also leading the team with 22 goals and seven assists. Sarah Bloise adds 15 goals and seven assists for 22 points while Marina Mayo (15-6-21) and Kayla Galet (15-5-20) are all at least at the 20-point mark for the season. Kyleigh Westgarth headlines the defensive unit as she leads the team in ground balls (15), caused turnovers (11) and draw controls (30). Laurel Maunder is the primary goalkeeper as she comes in with 11.05 goals-against average, .464 save percentage and 58 saves through seven games this season.
NEW SEASON…NEW TEAM
Trailing by three in the second half, Quinnipiac answered with five straight goals to catapult the Bobcats out front and ultimately to a season-opening 10-9 victory over CCSU (2/18). A resounding come-from-behind victory to open the career of first-year head coach Tanya Kotowicz at Quinnipiac, the victory stands as the first win in a season opener for the Bobcats since defeating UConn, 11-10, all the way back in the 2009 season (seven straight season-opening losses prior to tonight's win). Incredibly, Quinnipiac's win marks just the fourth victory in a season opener in the 19 seasons since joining the NCAA Div. I ranks (1999).
SHUTTING THE DOOR
Junior goalkeeper Kyle Larkin played one of the best games of her career on Sunday as she racked up a career high 16 saves in a loss to UC Davis (3/12). Posting 11 of her 16 saves in the first half alone, Larkin surpassed her previous career high of 14 from a road game at Siena last season. Larkin has been stellar over the last two games as she has accumulated 27 saves (13.5 per game) over that span, giving her 10 double digit save outings for her career.
INSTANT IMPACT
Quinnipiac fought hard in a 12-8 non-conference road loss to Sacred Heart (3/1), rattling off four straight goals to trail just 8-7 with 8:27 remaining and a huge spark in the run came from a Bobcat making her first career appearance. Missing the entire 2016 season and the first two games of 2017 due to injury, sophomore Kaitlin Unser took the field for the first time in her career against the Pioneers and immediately scored consecutive goals within the 4-0 run. Unser's goal scoring ability seen frequently in high school (139 career goals for Smithtown High School in New York) was ever-present in her first collegiate appearance.
COMEBACK CATS
The thunderous three-goal second half comeback win over CCSU (2/18) marked the first time Quinnipiac overcame a three-goal deficit to win since falling behind 3-0 against Iona to come back and win 15-9 on April 9, 2014 (36 games ago). The last time Quinnipiac overcame a three-goal second half deficit came against Manhattan on March 29, 2014 (38 games ago) as the Bobcats trailed 10-6 before coming all the way back to win 12-11.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Quinnipiac scored 10 goals in their season-opening victory over CCSU, a plateau the Bobcats reached only once in 16 games last season. Out of the 10 total goals scored, six were tallied by freshmen (Ashley Bobinski 4, Kayla Moreau 1, Brianna Fitzgerald) while nine were tallied by underclassmen (sophomore Allison Kuhn scored three goals). As a team, Quinnipiac posted 17 total points (10 goals, seven assists), 12 of which (70.6 percent) were scored by underclassmen.
SECOND HALF SUCCESS
Trailing 7-5 at the half, Quinnipiac stepped up their play considerably in the second half, outscoring CCSU 5-2 in the final 30 minutes of play to secure the come-from-behind 10-9 victory (2/18). Keying a 5-0 second half run that paved the way to victory was the Bobcat defense, who notched seven of the 10 total team saves in the second half alone. Goalkeeper Kyle Larkin tallied nine saves in the cage (six in the second half), including four straight (two on free position attempts) over a span of 4+ minutes down the stretch with the Bobcats leading by two. Brianna Fitzgerald also made a stellar defensive play, diving in front of a free position shot after Larkin was whistled for a foul and had to leave her cage, late in the game to preserve the thrilling win.
INSTANT IMPACT
Ashley Bobinski's first career game certainly stands out as one to remember as she scored four goals on four shots to make her the highest-scoring rookie in her debut as a Bobcat in program history. The last rookie to post a hat trick in her debut with Quinnipiac came back in 2012 as Kyra Ochwat tallied three goals against UConn. Bobinski scored three times, securing her hat trick after 17 minutes of play, which she added one more in the second half to give her a team-leading four tallies while igniting the game-deciding 5-0 second half run.
KUHN COMING THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH
Allison Kuhn was incredibly clutch for the Bobcats, either scoring or assisting on four of five unanswered goals for Quinnipiac including scoring the ultimate game-winner that put the Bobcats ahead 10-8 against CCSU (2/18). The Bobcats' leading returning scorer from last season (27 points – 19 goals, eight assists) tied for the team-lead in points in the victory while she added two draw controls and one caused turnover.
NEW LEADERSHIP
The 2017 season marks the first year under the leadership of new head coach Tanya Kotowicz. Kotowicz comes to Quinnipiac with a wealth of NCAA Division I women's lacrosse coaching experience, most recently as the head coach at Central Connecticut State University for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Before being hired as the CCSU head coach, Kotowicz was the top assistant at Yale from 2012 through 2014 and Hofstra from 2008 through 2012. Before taking the position at Hofstra, Kotowicz was the head coach at Quinnipiac's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference foe Marist in 2008 and an assistant at Saint Mary's College of California from 2006 to 2008. Kotowicz played collegiately at UConn, serving as a two-time team captain in 2004 and 2005, leading the program to an ECAC Championship in 2005.
Players Mentioned
ATTACK
/ Women's Lacrosse
MIDFIELD
/ Women's Lacrosse
MIDFIELD
/ Women's Lacrosse
GOALKEEPER
/ Women's Lacrosse
ATTACK
/ Women's Lacrosse
ATTACK
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