The Quinnipiac women’s soccer team is off to a slow start after losing their first two games to Stony Brook and Hofstra. This slow start for the Bobcats raises uncertainty about the future of the 2025 season.
One of the biggest changes for the team is the amount of young players added. The roster has seen significant changes after the graduation of nine players who all made a major impact from last years roster and the addition of nine first years.
Following last year’s MAAC Championship loss to the Fairfield Stags, head coach Dave Clarke reflected on what he needed from his upperclassmen next year, “On paper, we’ll have more talent, now it’s about them [the returners] building and leading them.”
He also compared the Bobcats’ upcoming year to men’s ice hockey head coach Rand Pecknold and the influx of first years he had to train last season. “I think we’re gonna have a similar year that Rand is going through right now, where I’m gonna be babysitting but, it’ll be fun.”
Nine in, nine out
Taking a deeper dive into the new additions, on top of the nine first years, Clarke brought in transfer Addyson Earl from UNC Charlotte. Earl did not get much playing time for the 49ers, but has played almost all 90 minutes in both of the Bobcats’ non-conference losses, picking up an assist on Milena Branco’s goal against the Seawolves.
Defenders Audrey Lefebvre, Corey Anderson, and Marta Ankarcrona are the three first years who are looking to have the most impact on this team.
Lefebvre comes to Hamden from Repentigny, Quebec, just outside of Montreal. She racked up numerous awards as a high school player and was a finalist in the 2024 Canadian National Championship.
Anderson is a local from Glastonbury, CT and was a three-time All-State Selection. She was featured heavily in the loss at Stony Brook, playing the full match.
Ankarcrona hails from Stockholm, Sweden and has had two appearances with Sweden’s U18 National Team. Although she hasn’t played as much, she recorded a shot on goal in the Stony Brook game.
All though the team hasn’t found the results they are looking for, Clarke is still impressed with what he has seen from the newcomers so far.
“They’ve done well in terms of how they train and the attitude coming in,” head coach Dave Clarke said of the first year class, “It’s great experience for them and they did well, I’m proud of their performance.”
The three new defenders will have help in the form of All-MAAC preseason team member Madison Alves, the only Bobcat named to a Preseason Team. Last season, Alves started all 20 games and recorded three goals and four assists.
A new face in the net
It’s hard to ignore the loss of goalkeeper Sofia Lospinoso. In her four years with the Bobcats, she had a record-setting 52 career wins, with 31 being clean sheets and 11 of them coming from the 2024 season. On top of that, she was also a two MAAC Gold Glove award winner for best goalkeeper of the year.
This season, uncertainty arises with Gwen Hoyt starting in net. The expectations for the grad goalkeeper are high. She started in two games last year, with both being clean sheets. Through the two games this season, she has conceded three goals against in each game.
As for the two backup goalkeepers, sophomores Olivia Jarvis and Elizabeth DeSantis, neither have seen any game action since wearing the blue and gold.
No need to fear, Dave Clarke is here
It is easy to believe that this team will finish the season in the middle of the pack. They are winless through two games, allowing six goals while only scoring one. Yet, this is nothing new for Clarke and the ‘Cats.
Last season, the Bobcats made it to the MAAC Championship for the fourth year in a row. They had 11 shutouts and went 10-2 in conference play. How did they start their 2024 campaign? Winless through two games, allowing six goals while only scoring one. Need more proof? In 2023, they started the season off 0-2, giving up four goals and were shutout in both matches. They went on to go undefeated in conference play and win the MAAC Championship for the second year in a row.
If there is anything to take away from the season so far, it’s that there’s no need to fear. Clarke said it himself last year.
“The next step is to probably do what we did last year… nothing will change, don’t drop your standards. You don’t go ‘hey we have to rewrite the book.’ You don’t change anything, keep your process, and that’s what we’ve done the last three years.”
Like the saying goes: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Clarke and the Bobcats will continue to stick with the game plan against Syracuse on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in Hamden.
