Vincent Quill, Lacrosse Beat Writer

The Quinnipiac women’s lacrosse team is looking to do something that it has never done before.

Starting the season playing eight straight non-conference games, the team will end the season with eight straight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) games to make a push for the playoffs. With an 8-7 record, Quinnipiac sits in seventh place in the MAAC. The Bobcats aim to make a push for the playoffs for the first time in back-to-back seasons, and only the 5th time since they joined the MAAC in 2013. 

The Bobcats’ season has had its ups and downs. In their first MAAC contest, they lost to Niagara in double overtime. After that, they traveled to Buffalo to take on Canisius, and yet again, came home disappointed, losing in another one-goal game 15-14.

The trend of one-goal losses has haunted this team, as four out of their seven losses and three of their four conference losses have come in one-goal games. These narrow losses highlight how small mistakes have big results.

On Saturday, April 11, the Bobcats took on the No. 1 team in the MAAC, the Fairfield Stags. Quinnipiac has struggled against Fairfield, losing all 17 games the two teams have played. This game was no different as the Stags cruised to a 17-13 win, putting Quinnipiac’s playoff chances in their own hands.

Quinnipiac now sits at 3-4 in the MAAC with one game remaining in the regular season. They take on Sacred Heart Pioneers with everything on the line. Win and you’re in. With six teams making the playoffs, Quinnipiac is the seventh team and Sacred Heart is in control of the sixth and final playoff spot sitting at 4-3.

These two teams have different styles of play, as Quinnipiac relies on its offense to overpower teams. Sacred Heart leans on its defense to stop attacks. Quinnipiac scores on average 15 goals per game, while Sacred Heart allows only 7 per game. The difference between these strategies will come down to can the Bobcats score. 

On Saturday, April 18, the Bobcats will march down to Sacred Heart with a winner-takes-all matchup, and a chance to make history.