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Category: Lacrosse

  • One lesson from each loss in Quinnipiac men’s lacrosse’s 0-5 start

    One lesson from each loss in Quinnipiac men’s lacrosse’s 0-5 start

    By: Kaitlyn Grady, Cameron Levasseur

    Few NCAA men’s lacrosse teams started the 2024 season as dominant as Quinnipiac. The Bobcats rattled off a 7-0 start to the year, becoming the final undefeated team in the nation and earning a spot on the Inside Lacrosse Top-20 for the first time since 2013. 

    The campaign ended in disappointment, a MAAC quarterfinal loss to Manhattan capping off an underwhelming 10-game conference slate. But there’s no doubt Quinnipiac expected to replicate its early-season success in 2025.

    “We have a healthy squad, a few more veterans as well,” head coach Mason Poli said to The Quinnipiac Chronicle prior to the start of the season. “I think from an offensive and defensive standpoint, even in the middle of the field, I think we have the ability to push from transition this year. We’re really confident in what we can bring to the table.”

    The first month of this season has been nothing if not confidence shaking for the Bobcats. They’ve lost all of their nonconference  games, leaving a late-February road trip to Colorado with an 0-5 record and the seventh-worst RPI in the country. 

    So what gives? Why has Quinnipiac failed to live up to its preseason expectations and how can it turn its game around entering MAAC play?

    QU Sports Page’s Kaitlyn Grady and Cameron Levasseur analyzed the Bobcats’ struggles and offer a lesson from each loss:

    Feb. 14 at UMass | Final: UMass 19 | Quinnipiac 5

    In the Bobcats’ first game of the 2025 campaign they took on UMass. The Bobcats hung around for the start of the game, entering the second quarter tied at three. UMass then scored nine unanswered goals, giving the Minutemen a 12-3 advantage they never gave up. 

    Lesson: They need to play the full 60 minutes

    Quinnipiac hung with UMass well into the second quarter, proving they can play with a good opponent, but they struggled to keep pace through all four quarters.  If the Bobcats can put a full game together and score consistently in all four quarters, they will be more successful in conference play.  There have been seven quarters this season where the Bobcats have scored one or fewer goals, and they have been outscored in 15 out of 20 quarters overall. Scoring consistently in all quarters will help the Bobcats play with the opponent for 60 minutes. 

    Feb. 18 at St. Johns | Final: St. Johns 15 | Quinnipiac 9

    In Quinnipiac’s second game against St. John’s, the Bobcats played tough and hung around for most of the game. Although they did not come out of the contest with the win, there were a few standout individual performances that can be built off of going forward. Senior goaltender Mason Oak, who was named preseason MAAC Player of the Year had 16 saves (33 across the first two games). Cole Marsala stood out for the Bobcats’ attack, tallying three points on the day.

    Lesson: Lean on your assets 

    The Bobcats will have a few advantages against most of the teams that they play. A major one is in net. Oak is a standout and they will be able to lean on his number of saves in conference play. Oak is currently 12th in the country in total number of saves at 68. They need to make plays and get shots to their best shooters, and prioritize taking quality shots. The Bobcats shot on goal percentage is 57% , compared to their opponents’ 65%. The Bobcats need to take care of the ball and complete quick passes to get better shots and take advantage of their possessions. 

    Feb. 22 vs. Bryant | Final: Bryant 18 | Quinnipiac 10

    In Quinnipiac’s third game against the Bryant Bulldogs, the Bobcats started slow again and struggled to score early. This was the first game of the season that the Bobcats scored double digits, and once again had to play from behind from the jump. Quinnipiac fell behind early, down 6-2 in the first quarter. 

    Lesson: Attack early and often

    The Bobcats need to start the game by scoring early and avoid digging themselves a hole that they cannot overcome offensively. 

    Feb. 28 at Air Force | Final: Air Force 21 | Quinnipiac 8

    In Quinnipiac’s fourth game they traveled out west to Colorado to play Air Force. The Bobcats started better, getting out to the early 2-0 lead. However, Air Force outmatched Quinnipiac on both sides of the ball. Between the start of the second quarter and the end of the third, Air Force went on a 14-3 run over the Bobcats. The Falcons outshot Quinnipiac 50-32, controlling the pace of the game. Air Force also had the advantage in ground balls won (36 to 19) and turnovers forced (17 to 10). The Bobcats were able to win more faceoffs and match Air Force in saves as well. 

    Lesson: Limit shots on net

    Quinnipiac has been outshot in every game this season, allowing more than 48 shots per game, while only shooting 29 shots per game. Although on paper they do have the advantage at goalie, with Mason Oak who was named a preseason All American being out shot by 20 is too much to overcome. This time last year the Bobcats were allowing nearly 47 shots per game. The difference is in how many get to the goal. Through the first five games of 2024, Quinnipiac allowed an average of 52% of shots on net. This season, that figure has jumped to 65%. It doesn’t matter if you have an All-American goaltender, if you allow more shots to reach him, he will allow more goals. 

    March 2 at Denver | Final: Denver 14 | Quinnipiac 7 

    The Bobcats played their second game in Colorado against No. 15 Denver. The Bobcats had a strong start in this game, taking an early 3-2 lead and ending the first quarter tied. The Pioneers then went on an 8-1 scoring run, leaving the Bobcats down by six, a margin that they could not overcome. But the 14 goals the Bobcats gave up was their lowest total of the season. Denver is likely the best team Quinnipiac will face all season, and its defensive effort Sunday suggests there is no reason the Bobcats should not be able to shut down opponents in conference play. 

    Lesson: Possession is key

    The Bobcats had many high points in the seven-goal loss, one being in the face-of circle. Sophomore midfielder Frank Mousa, who was just named MAAC faceoff specialist of the week, won 8-14 faceoffs, and overall Quinnipiac won 11 faceoffs to Denver’s 13. Which is a big improvement from the season opener where they only won nine faceoffs compared with UMass’s 18.The Bobcats also turned the ball over 16 times, compared with Denver’s 14. Turning the ball over and possession goes hand in hand, by winning faceoffs and limiting turnovers, Quinnipiac keeps the ball in its own hands and likewise limits chances against. 

    Looking ahead

    Now the Bobcats look to turn their season around as they head into conference play. They face Mount St. Mary’s (2-4) on the road on Saturday. This will be their second back to back road trip following the trip to Colorado. Quinnipiac beat the Mountaineers 15-10 in their only meeting in 2024. 

  • From interim to head coach: Jordan Christopher leads women’s lacrosse’s resurgence

    From interim to head coach: Jordan Christopher leads women’s lacrosse’s resurgence

    By: Judaea Ingram and Kaitlyn Grady

    The Quinnipiac University athletic department removed Jordan Christopher’s interim title after one season in charge. Now as the women’s lacrosse head coach, Christopher plans to lead the team back from a lackluster 2024 season.

    “I am thankful to our administration for their support and belief in me to lead this program moving forward. This team is full of special people and I am excited to work with them as we continue to work towards a MAAC Championship,” Christopher said after receiving the news.

    Christopher took over last season as interim head coach in January in her eighth year with the Bobcats. She was promoted to this role after previous head coach Tanya Kotowicz was allegedly fired seven weeks before the 2024 opener for playing an injured athlete during a fall tournament — a situation faced with competing internal narratives, according to an investigation by The Quinnipiac Chronicle.

    As an assistant, Christoper helped the Bobcats accomplish a winning season in 2023, going 10-8. The team made the MAAC tournament and upset Canisius to make it to the conference semifinals. 

    She started her journey with the Bobcats as an assistant coach in 2017, a year in which the team made its first-ever MAAC tournament appearance.

    Before Quinnipiac, Christopher spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Central Connecticut State. 

    The Bobcats are looking to improve from a 2-13 season last season, a record Christopher believes did not fully grasp the talent the team had. 

    “We weren’t a 2-13 team last season,” Christopher said. ”We were better than that, we just could not get on the other side of it and now we are finally learning how to get on the other side of those games.”

    Under Christopher’s lead, the team has worked on fine tuning the fundamental skills, whether that is conditioning, stick work, or just their understanding of the game. 

    Since transitioning into the head coach spot, the Bobcats are now 2-0. Their first game against Central Connecticut State was pure domination as they won 21-2. The Bobcats won their second game against Colgate, 13-9.

    “My teammates were making lanes for me. They were giving me great reads. I couldn’t have done it without them and the play calls were great,” junior attack Cate Bendowski said after having a career-high four goals against Colgate.

    First year goalie Shannon Alden had 15 saves against Colgate. 

    “My defense was giving me such great angles, and low angles, that I was able to just get hit with the ball. Our defense played out of their mind today” Alden said.

    In the first two of five straight home games to open the year, the Bobcats have protected home turf. 

    “It builds confidence when you get to defend your home turf, there is value in that,” Christopher said. “When you build that confidence here, you can take that on the road with you.”

    This strategic scheduling aims to provide a strong start to the season and prepare the team for the competitive MAAC play.

    The Bobcats have not trailed for one second this season and had the second-largest margin of victory in the program’s Division I history in their opener against CCSU.

    “We got to keep the lead the whole time, that’s kind of a skill you got to learn and I am really proud of them for figuring it out and keeping the win,” Christopher said. 

    A lot of games last year, Christopher expressed how they weren’t ready to go on the first whistle, so they always had to climb out way back. A goal for this season is to come out fast and score quickly. 

    So far, this mentality has worked, as the Bobcats’ offense has started off hot. Outscoring their opponents 17-3 in the first quarter through two games.

    “Some of the shots were lasers, to see it go across the line is huge for the confidence and it carries through the game,” Christopher said. 

    The urgency the team possessed these first two games is already an improvement from last season. 

    “A lot of those games last year we weren’t ready to go on the first whistle and we always had to climb our way back, so the goal is to try and be on the other side of that,” Christopher said. 

    Out of the 15 games the Bobcats played last season, they trailed after the first quarter in nine of them. Each of those games ended in a loss. 

    In the preseason, Quinnipiac was predicted to finish No. 10 in a 12-team conference. Jordan and the players used this low ranking as fuel and they are ready to show everyone what they have been working for. 

    “They had a fire under them after last season,” Christopher said. 

    This 2-0 start is a good sign for the Bobcats, but their next game will be the ultimate test. They will face No. 8 Yale on Tuesday at 2 p.m.