Photo courtesy Quinnipiac Athletics
By James Anderson
Two years removed from winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship Quinnipiac field hockey is poised for another title push this year. In 2013, the Bobcats won the MAAC championship in their inaugural year after transferring from the Northeast Conference.
But 2014 was a different story. The Bobcats brought in nine talented freshmen, but fell to Rider in the MAAC semifinals. Despite the disappointing end to last season, the Bobcats were picked third in this season’s preseason coach’s poll.
Here are my top three reasons why Becca Main’s squad will be hoisting the trophy in 2015:
1. Goaltending
Returning for a fifth year, two-time co-MAAC goalkeeper of the year Megan Conaboy is back in net. Conaboy’s 23 career wins and 2.08 goals against average have put her in the top five in program history in both categories.
While Conaboy’s career statistics are impressive her in-conference statistics in the last two seasons as the full time starter are astronomical. Conaboy has an 8-3 record with a 1.13 goals against average and a .804 save percentage against conference opponents. Conaboy has a reputation for being relentless in games against conference rivals, has the stats to back it up and is on track for another lights out season in 2015.
2. Veteran defense
The Bobcats return three upperclassmen defensive players including two senior co-captains. Megan Osanitsch, 2014 all-MAAC first team defensive player and 2015 preseason all-MAAC first team. Osanitsch played every minute of every game last season.
Osanitsch has been a staple of the Bobcats back line all four seasons and is regarded as a top defensive player in the conference. She is sure to continue her consistent and solid play in front of Conaboy.
Another senior on the back line is Haley Swartz. Swartz started all 19 games in 2014 and played a major role with Osanitsch in giving the Bobcats 13 defensive saves, a stat which led all of Division I.
Also, don’t forget about midfielder Angie King. The rising junior finished with seven of her teams 13 defensive saves, good enough for tied for 7th in the country. The facilitator plays an integral role on both sides of the ball and is heralded as one of the hardest working players on the team.
3. Improved scoring depth
Sophomore Michelle Federico scored 20 goals and had 13 assists in her senior year of high school. Federico’s performance was good enough to being named the Connecticut State High School Player of the Year and being named National Field Hockey Coaches Association First Team All-American.
However, in her freshman campaign, Federico was tasked in a defensive role, playing on the back line for much of the year. This year she will be placed back in a more comfortable offensive role in Danielle Allan’s absence.
In addition to Federico, Savanna Reilly is coming off of a breakout year as the Bobcats second leading scorer behind Allan last season. Reilly earned consistent starting minutes, starting in 17 of 19 games, for the first time in her tenure and played well enough to be named MAAC preseason first-team honors entering into this season. The tandem of Federico and Reilly are sure to wreak havoc on conference goaltenders.
The Bobcats have the pieces in place to make a run at a MAAC championship this season, but in their way stands the reigning champion Monmouth. The Hawks have 11 players returning from the 2014 championship team and received six of the seven first place votes in the preseason poll.
Monmouth, like Quinnipiac, had three players named to the preseason all-MAAC team. Of those three players include the 2014 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, Casey Hanna and MAAC Rookie of the Year, Megan Donahue. Quinnipiac will travel to Monmouth this season on Oct. 25.
