Quinnipiac Continues to Dominate MAAC with Decisive Win Over Rider

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Ronny Watson, Beat Reporter: Quinnipiac Women's Soccer

This Wednesday the Quinnipiac women’s soccer team improved to a 10-1-1 record, following their sixth straight in-conference victory. The game was off to a slow start with failed Bobcat scoring opportunities, including a missed penalty kick by forward Rebecca Cooke.  

In the early going, the game felt reminiscent of QU’s 2019 match against Rider, which ended in a 2-0 loss despite Bobcat dominance. Quinnipiac head coach Dave Clarke blamed the team’s early offensive struggles on their unwillingness to drive on Rider defenders and create enough quality scoring chances.  

 “We were still in the habit of trying to over-do it up the middle trying to score when we could’ve been taking better touches,” said coach Clarke.  

 The Bobcats wouldn’t score until the 24th minute when Paige LaBerge slid a shot past the Rider goalkeeper for her third of the season. Eleven minutes later, Quinnipiac would extend the lead with a goal from second year Ella Gagno.  From there the floodgates were opened with scores from Courtney Chocol and Anna Costello in the second half. Cooke would also get in on the action, increasing her scoring streak to eleven straight games. 

The Bobcats are now unbeaten in their last nine games and will travel to New Rochelle for yet another MAAC matchup against the 7-4-4 Iona Gaels on Saturday.