By: Josh Silverman
Follow @JoshMSilverman
The Quinnipiac field hockey team took on the Holy Cross Crusaders at the Quinnipiac Field Hockey Turf Complex on Sunday afternoon. Playing the second game in their new stadium, the Bobcats were still looking for their first win of the season. However the Crusaders spoiled that opportunity, netting two second half goals to propel themselves to a 2-0 victory over the Bobcats. Below are three takeaways from the game:

1 – Maureen Connolly

Quinnipiac head coach Becca Main emphasized before the game that the Bobcats needed to contain Holy Cross’ leading scorer Maureen Connolly. Unfortunately for the Bobcats, they weren’t able to limit her impact as the senior forward tallied the first goal of the game and played an impactful role in the Crusaders victory. Connolly scored on a shot to the left post at the beginning of the second half, and Main’s squad couldn’t recover. The momentum from the goal carried the Crusaders the rest of the way and the Bobcats inability to contain Connolly was a major reason they are still searching for their first win.

2 – Missed Opportunities

After scoring only three goals in their first three games, the Bobcats needed to convert on their scoring opportunities if they wanted to come away with a win. While they were constantly putting pressure on the Crusaders and totaled 11 shots on goal, the Bobcats weren’t able to put any past Crusaders goaltender Marcia Laplante. There were multiple times throughout the game when the Bobcats had opportunities to score on crosses and they weren’t able to convert. Against tough out of conference opponents the Bobcats need to be able to turn opportunities into points.

3 – Looking Ahead

Though Quinnipiac will have the sour memory of this weekend’s losses against Northeastern and Holy Cross at the forefront of its memory, there were plenty of positives Quinnipiac could takeaway from the weekend. Quinnipiac’s ability to put itself in good scoring positions gives the team an advantage against other elite teams. The Bobcats’ defense, led by senior defender Lauren Belskie, has done a great job holding teams out of the offensive zone. Belskie’s stout play paired with Livy Golini between the pipes gives Quinnipiac a great defense they can lean on when the offense struggles to put points on the board.

Quinnipiac will continue to search for its first win when in-state rival Yale comes to Hamden on Friday at 3 p.m.
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