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Author: Tyler Platz

  • Everything you need to know about the MAAC softball playoffs

    Everything you need to know about the MAAC softball playoffs

    By: Tyler Platz

    Postseason softball is less than a month away with the MAAC Tournament scheduled for May 6-10. The top-eight teams in the conference qualify for the tournament. The bottom four seeds open play with a pair of single elimination games, while the remaining rounds follow a double elimination format. The tournament champion earns an automatic bid to represent the MAAC in the NCAA Tournament.

    As it stands now

    If the season ended today, here’s how the standings would shake out:

    No. 1 Marist Red Foxes: 30-6 (7-1)

    Marist has been the most dominant team in the conference with an 83.3% win percentage. Wins have come easily for the Red Foxes, powered by one of the top pitching staffs in the league – including a 2-0 mark against No. 3 Fairfield, a sweep of No. 5 Quinnipiac and lopsided wins over No. 6 Canisius.

    Graduate starting pitcher Kiley Myers has continued to perform at a high level following the 2024 season in which she was named MAAC Co-Pitcher of the Year. In 2025, Myers is excelling with a sub-2.00 ERA of 1.27.

    Another name in Marist’s rotation to look out for is sophomore Anna Sidlowski. The 2024 MAAC Rookie of the Year complements Myers with her 6-2 record so far this season. 

    Senior Maddie Pleasants rounds out the Red Foxes talented pitching core. Pleasants leads all MAAC pitchers with a 1.22 ERA. Offensively, she also has been a threat, topping the conference with a .586 batting average.

    No. 2 Iona Gaels: 19-14 (13-3)

    The Gaels currently hold the best record in MAAC play, and that success against familiar opponents could set them up for a head-turning postseason run. Iona has performed well on defense by limiting mistakes and taking advantage of the opportunities it’s presented.

    This clean and consistent team-wide defensive effort has the Gaels ranked second in the conference in fielding at .974 – a mark that reflects their ability to stay composed. The majority of softball is mental, and Iona’s efficient, focused play against teams it knows well could be the difference in a tight postseason game. 

    Routine plays and no errors give Iona a shot to make a push for the MAAC title.

    No. 3 Fairfield Stags: 17-19 (10-3)

    The Stags’ well-rounded play makes them a solid contender to win the MAAC. Their second-place ranking in batting average (.317) and fielding percentage (.973) showcases this team’s execution on both sides of the ball.

    Fairfield’s balanced attack and efficiency on offense and defense have led to a strong 10-3 conference record, making it a tough matchup in the postseason. With less than a month until the playoffs start, the Stags will look to capitalize on these strengths to stay among the top of the MAAC standings and best position themselves for a run.

    No. 4 Siena Saints: 23-14 (7-3)

    As cliché as the phrase “defense wins championships” is, it certainly applies to the defending MAAC champion, Siena Saints. This season, multiple Saints have maintained perfect fielding percentages, which could translate into some important wins in the postseason.

    Junior Ella Milante (38) leads the team with 35 putouts and three assists. She’s joined by senior Ashley Giampolo (42) who has been consistent with 19 putouts and 23 assists on zero errors. Sophomore Chloe Cummings (28) also cracks the top 20 MAAC fielders, contributing 27 putouts and one assist with no errors as well.

    No. 5 Quinnipiac Bobcats: 13-19 (8-5)

    As the regular season winds down, the Bobcats gained some much-needed momentum after a three-game sweep of Mount St. Mary’s (8-31, 3-15 MAAC) over the weekend. While the sweep came against a struggling opponent, it provided Quinnipiac with a significant confidence boost.

    The Bobcats have generated wins by committee, without any players ranking in the top five of major statistical categories. But if they continue building on their recent form and 8-5 conference record, they could be well-positioned for a playoff run in May.

    No. 6 Canisius Griffins: 17-17 (7-5)

    The Griffins know how to hit the ball. They rank second in the MAAC in both batting average and home runs. This type of offense could make them one of the more threatening lower-seeded teams in the playoffs. 

    Sophomore outfielder Ella Johel leads the team with a .444 batting average, and her 48 hits and 32 runs have been an integral part of the Griffins’ regular season. Her play through mid-April has helped position Canisius for a strong postseason push.

    Atop the Canisius’ home run list is senior infielder Rosie Gomez and junior infielder Bailey Altorre, each with six home runs and over 20 RBIs. Their power hitting adds another layer to the Griffins’ offense, making them a tough out if the offense is rolling.

    No. 7 Rider Broncos: 14-26 (8-7)

    The postseason is still in play for the Broncos, even after not having the cleanest season so far. The team’s overall record may not stand out; Rider has found ways to stay competitive in the MAAC. They’re tied for second in the league in total hits (108) and lead all teams in doubles (34), consistently putting runners in scoring position.

    If Rider continues to find gaps in opponents’ play and deliver timely doubles to put runners on second, they could be a survivor of the single elimination opening rounds – the kind of team nobody wants to face when bats heat up.

    No. 8 Sacred Heart Pioneers: 16-19 (6-6)

    As the potential bottom seed heading into the MAAC playoffs, the Pioneers have little to no expectations. Currently enduring a six game losing streak, with losses to Yale, Siena and Manhattan, Sacred Heart will have to rebound quickly in April to make the postseason and play well once there.

    Inconsistency has been the issue for the Pioneers, but the upside is they have potential to put bats on the ball. Offensively, they rank third in the conference with a .305 batting average and are also among the top three teams in home runs with eight so far in 2025.

    If any rhythm can be found, Sacred Heart could be a sleeper team in the postseason – one that could put the top seeds on upset watch.

  • Five takeaways from Quinnipiac-Clarkson, ECAC quarterfinals series

    Five takeaways from Quinnipiac-Clarkson, ECAC quarterfinals series

    By Tyler Platz

    Quinnipiac’s postseason run ended after dropping the latter two games of its three-game series against Clarkson in the ECAC quarterfinals, falling 2-1 and 4-1. The Bobcats opened the series strong in Game 1, holding the Golden Knights to a single goal. But in Games 2 and 3, they couldn’t overcome the Golden Knights’ adjustments. Looking both at the series and the future, here are five takeaways from the matchup.

    Special teams battle

    The matchup between the Bobcats and Golden Knights’ special teams in this series was highlighted before the opening faceoff of Game 1. The Golden Knights have the ECAC’s top power-play percentage, converting around 34% of the time. The Bobcats’ penalty kill is one of the conference’s best units, successfully killing penalties 88.6% of the time.

    Playing to their strength, the Bobcats set the tone early in this playoff series. The wingers were able to shut down Clarkson’s top defensive pairing in senior Haley Winn and graduate Nicole Gosling on the penalty kill in Game 1, not allowing many shots to get through.

    However, as the series progressed, Clarkson’s special teams improved, while Quinnipiac’s did the opposite.

    ”There were some moments this weekend where maybe we didn’t have our best stuff, and Quinnipiac was coming at us pretty good,” Matt Desrosiers, Clarkson head coach, said. “But we kind of hung in there.”

    In Game 2, while struggling to clear the defensive zone, freshman defenseman Makayla Watson took a body-checking penalty, giving the Golden Knights their first power-play opportunity. Gosling was able to break the seal, beating graduate goaltender Kaley Doyle high to even the score at one.

    In Game 3, the Bobcats once again fell victim to the Golden Knights’ top special teams unit. Nearing the end of the second period, graduate forward Sophie Urban was called for body-checking. 

    The Golden Knights capitalized when their power-play box squeezed the Bobcats’ penalty killers in tight to the net before junior forward Rhea Hicks was left open at the far post, where she scored on a one-timer, putting Clarkson up 2-0.

    Is Felicia Frank heir apparent?

    This season, Quinnipiac relied on its strong defensive play, with Doyle’s performance in net acting as the anchor. Her conference-leading .945 save percentage and eight shutouts kept the Bobcats in many games, but the offense often couldn’t keep up, leaving the defense as the team’s strongest asset.

    With Doyle graduating, all eyes now turn to freshman goaltender Felicia Frank. In 10 games this season, Frank posted a .947 save percentage and four shutouts, earning seven wins.

    After her first collegiate start last season, where she earned her first shutout, Quinnipiac head coach Cassandra Turner praised Frank’s confidence.

    “She played for the Swedish national team and stood on her head against Team USA,” Turner said. “And for her to have had games like that in her past, she has confidence in big ways.”

    While she hasn’t yet built the same extensive resume as Doyle, the Bobcats will need Frank to step up next season, especially with offensive struggles ahead.

    Defense can’t carry the load

    Quinnipiac’s defense was crucial throughout the season, but it wasn’t enough to carry the team when its offense went dormant. In 2024-25, the Bobcats failed to win a single game in which opponents scored two or more goals, a pattern that continued in their ECAC quarterfinal series against Clarkson.

    After opening the series with a strong 3-1 showing in Game 1, the Bobcats struggled defensively in the next two games, allowing two goals in Game 2 and four goals in Game 3, ultimately ending their chance for a conference championship..

    While the defense and solid goaltending kept Quinnipiac competitive enough to secure the No. 5 seed in the ECAC, the lack of offensive production ultimately proved costly. Teams at the top of the standings, like Cornell and Colgate, have a well-rounded game that allows them to excel both offensively and defensively. Moving forward, Quinnipiac will need to adopt a more balanced approach to compete with these higher-seeded teams.

    Scoring void ahead

    Sophomore forward Kahlen Lamarche led Quinnipiac in points this season with 33. However, the other top four Bobcats in points — senior forward Maya Labad (27), graduate defensemen Kendall Cooper (26) and Maddy Samoskevich (22) and forward Jenna Donohue (19) — will all graduate this year.

    This leaves a significant challenge in replacing much of this team’s offensive production. While there’s a possibility Labad may return as a graduate student, the team will still have to address the significant void left in an already low-scoring offense, which ranked No. 5 in the ECAC and No. 14 nationally in goals scored.

    Regular season power, postseason puzzle

    Since Turner was named head coach in 2015, the Bobcats have consistently excelled in the regular season, compiling four 20-win seasons and three 30-win seasons while routinely punching their ticket to the ECAC tournament. 

    However, postseason success has largely eluded Turner’s teams. The Bobcats have faced tough losses in the ECAC quarterfinals six times and the semifinals three times, unable to make a deep run despite strong regular seasons.

    The outlier was in Turner’s first year as head coach during the 2015-16 season, when the Bobcats swept RPI in the quarterfinals and defeated St. Lawrence in the semifinals, before outlasting Clarkson 1-0 to win the program’s first and only ECAC Championship. 

    After once again dropping the best-of-three quarterfinal series to Clarkson this weekend, Turner continues to search for another breakthrough postseason, aiming to replicate the championship run in her first year. With a bid to the NCAA Tournament still a possibility, depending on how the cards fall, Turner and the Bobcats have an opportunity to change this narrative with some signs of life in the tournament.