By James Anderson
Quinnipiac’s field hockey team is off to a hot start in conference play. However, this weekend could be the make-or-break series if it wants to host this years Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference playoffs.
The Bobcats (5-9, 3-0 MAAC) face their toughest challenge of the season as they travel to take on the Rider Broncs and the Monmouth Hawks.
This weekend series has been a staple in the Bobcats schedule for years. They haven’t swept the series since 2010. Most recently, the Bobcats lost both games in overtime at home last year.
Quinnipiac travels to Ben Cohen Field at Rider University (9-5, 1-1 MAAC) on Friday at 4:30 p.m. The Bobcats 2013 MAAC Championship came at Cohen. But, Rider has owned Quinnipiac when playing on its home turf. The Broncs are 12-3 against the Bobcats at home and hold an 18-11 advantage all-time.
Head Coach Becca Main believes its the playing surface that has given her team issues.
“We’re going to a field turf facility which is not our norm and where we’re not comfortable.”
The Bobcats play on AstroTurf while the Broncs play on long grass turf. Main says the game against the Broncs brings something different for her team.
“When you say you’re going to play Rider, even on Facebook, all the alums start commenting ‘Oh my gosh it’s a Rider game.’ That elicits a feeling and a change in terms of how you practice and how you [prepare].”
Rider carries a high-powered offensive attack boasting the top two points leaders in the conference. Allison Baligian and Carlie Spaeder have tallied 25 and 24 points respectively heading into the weekend.
The Bobcats counter with a stellar back line that features junior Angie King who is cementing herself as one of the programs all-time best; she leads the NCAA Division I with 12 defensive saves this year. In the cage is two-time MAAC co-goaltender of the year Megan Conaboy. Conaboy is having yet another strong year. She’s currently second in the MAAC in save percentage.
Conaboy feels that her teams tough out-of-conference schedule has prepared her defense for this weekend.
“Playing against ranked teams makes you learn fast. If you don’t perfect [the] basics, then you’re going to get taken off the field. What’s happening now is the evolution of a more complex defense. I trust everyone on the field to do the basic things of being a defender and now it’s the strategy [that we focus on].”
Following its matchup with Rider, Quinnipiac heads to Monmouth (5-9, 2-0 MAAC) on Sunday. The Bobcats return to West Long Branch for the first time since last years MAAC semifinal loss to Rider.
The Bobcats hold the advantage in the all-time series against the Hawks 17-9 and hold the advantage when playing on the road 9-4. However, Monmouth’s won five of the last six meetings.
Heading into the weekend, the Bobcats and Hawks are the only two remaining undefeated teams. Both rely heavily on their depth. Quinnipiac has 10 players who have scored a goal and Monmouth has nine.
Both squads only have two players who have scored five or more goals. One of those players is Quinnipiac’s Savanna Reilly who has five goals on the year, just one away from tying her season-high of six from a year ago.
Reilly attributes her offensive production this year to the comfort she gets from having an established defensive core behind her.
“[When] Danielle Allan left I had to kind of had to fill her spot, but I’ve had everyone behind me still. It starts with the goalie Meg Conaboy and it works up [the field]. It’s given me more confidence.”
It’s easy to call this weekend make-or-break for the Bobcats, but Main knows the weight it holds.
“Rider almost always wins at home. Monmouth is really becoming a powerhouse. For us, this weekend is going to [determine] if this a team that is going to [leave] a legacy and a history and follow the tradition of doing well in the conference.”
Or will Main’s team make history with two wins en route to hosting the MAAC playoffs for the first time.
“That’s a big deal for us,” Main said. “A huge deal for us.”
