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October 2018, theqbsn.com
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QBSN Lauren Wendland makes a comeback P. 6
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
4 Q&A: John McMahon 12 Centerfold Liz Flynn sat down with cross country junior John McMahon to discuss his journey as a runner and balancing a busy schedule.
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The Road to Recovery
After a car accident left her with lifethreatening injuries, Lauren Wendland talks about her therapy and how she got back on the field.
The Name on the Front
Women’s ice hockey’s Melissa Samoskevich and Kati Tabin donned new jerseys this summer when they earned a spot on their countries’ national teams.
Check out one of the highlights when field hockey hosted Michigan State this month.
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Together as One
The men’s soccer team has 10 international players on their roster, but these different cultures help form a cohesive unit on and off the field.
Opinion
Kevin Higgins shares his thoughts on this season’s men’s basketball team as they look to claw their way to the top of the MAAC in year two of the Baker Dunleavy Era.
WANT TO JOIN QBSN? Emma Robertson
COME TO OUR MEETINGS ON WEDNESDAYS AT 9:15 P.M. IN TATOR HALL 317. October 2018
The Quinnipiac Bobcats Sports Network (QBSN) is a student-run organization at Quinnipiac University and was founded in 2010. QBSN offers students the unique opportunity to become active sports journalists, though we welcome folks from every major to come in and get involved in a fun and welcoming atmosphere. QBSN covers the majority of sporting events at Quinnipiac University with all broadcasts available either on Mixlr or via Quinnipiac Athletics. QBSN also offers game previews, recaps, feature articles, photography and live podcasts available through this website, as well as live social media updates. QBSN also works closely with other Quinnipiac Student Media organizations to further the coverage of all things Quinnipiac University. This includes the weekly show, Bobcat Breakdown that QBSN produces with Q30. After only two years of existence, QBSN gained noticeable recognition, earning the QU New Student Organization of the Year award in the 2010-11 scholastic year and the 2011-12 Quinnipiac Athletics Behind the Scenes award. Without the support of its passionate members, the Quinnipiac Bobcats Sports Network would not be able to flourish in all areas of student media, including pioneering the next phases of development as an organization. Thank you to all of those who have made this venture a reality. Happy reading. CHIEF EDITOR: Liz Flynn
MANAGING EDITORS:
Emma Robertson and Will Fowler
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CONTRIBUTING EDITORS:
Phil Akre, Dan Bahl, Kevin Higgins, Sophia Alfieri, Lauren Heery, Bryan Murphy, Jon Surratt, Brendan O’Sullivan, TJ Brown, Mike Dalton, Jonathan Banks, Katie O’Keefe, Juliana Vitti, Emma Hunt, Anna Buonomo, Ryan Flaherty Cover Photo: Liz Flynn
ALL STATS UPDATED AS OF 10/21/18
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Chairman: Kirby paulson Vice President: Emma Robertson Chief Editor: Liz flynn online Editor: will fowler social media manager: Josh Silverman Broadcast managerS: Bryan Schwartz, Pat Pitts
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Q&A John McMahon by: liz flynn John McMahon is usually found in one of two places; with his cross country teammates or helping out with Q30’s newscast. I had the chance to catch up with him and see how he’s kept up with his new lifestyle after walking on to the team as a sophomore.
grew into it. You joined the cross country team as a walk-on your sophomore year. How did that come about?
loved it. During that time, our current coach wasn’t here so I reached out to Martin (women’s coach) and she said, “We’ll see what happens when you apply.”
I knew I would be a walk-on. So, if anything, it would be a It was definitely a journey. When I was applying to schools, little difficult. By March/April of my senior year, running was how it works is you apply and pretty much up in the air. I had send your coaches your inforWhen did you first start runalready committed to Quinnipimation and PRs. I got some ning? ac by that point. Going into the offers from division II schools summer I still ran a lot, but it I first started running in middle and recruitment letters in high school. Quinnipiac wasn’t neces- wasn’t until August of freshman school. My school had a track team that was very unorganized. sarily on my radar to run, but it year when the new coach, (insert was a cliché story where I came coaches name here), emailed me But, I got into it because my and said, “I know you talked to brother, who is three years older to campus and I was looking for a reason not to come here. I Coach Martin, and we may have than me, started running and couldn’t find that reason, I really more roster spots.” enjoyed it a lot. I pretty much 4
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After that I went into full hardware mode. When I got here, he told me they had a roster cap of 15 and I couldn’t be on the team. That was pretty much it. Freshman year I did my own thing, mainly student media and greek life. Running was on the backburner. Around January, one thing led to another and I was back in contact with coach and he came up with a good training plan. Since then, I’ve been on the team. Was it a tough transition going from your ordinary freshman year to becoming a Division I athlete? It was really hard. In high school I couldn’t picture myself not running. It was part of my day-to-day. We won the Massachusetts state championship four or fives times in a row. I was divisional champion in the 4x8 as well. We were used to winning and being really good. Coming from that to a stagnant nothingness was a huge change. For the first two months of college I was pretty los t. I didn’t know what I was doing, but part of me wished I was running. Ultimately, that’s what brought me back.
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What are some of your favorite memories of being on the cross country team? A lot of cross country isn’t super glamorous. There are times October 2018
where it’s raining or snowing out and it becomes, quite frankly, not that fun. But, i think those make the fondest memories. Last year we were on a long run and it was completely downpouring with water up to our ankles. Most of us were miserable, but at that point it was fun because here we are, 12 guys trudging through a lake. To everyone else, it doesn’t seem fun. Everyone in front of you and behind you is working just as hard as you are. Do you have any superstitions before you race? I have to have my fingernails cut. I can’t have long nails on a race day. In high school I always had to have a freshly shaved face. Maybe I thought I might as well look good for a race. Other than that, it’s just the usual jitters. I’m not a big breakfast guy the day of, either. Usually the morning before a race you’re not having eggs and toast; you’re having two scoops of oatmeal and that’s pretty much it. What’s the biggest difference between running in high school and college? The stakes are higher. You run in high school to hopefully get the opportunity to run in college. Now you’re in college and this is it. You better run hard and fast because you made it to this point. So, you might as well work for it.
You’re very involved in student media here at Quinnipiac. Does it get difficult to balance that and running? Definitely. You could ask anyone here, I was probably at Q30 shows every week my freshman year. Last year it tapered off a bit to the point where I wasn’t around a lot. Now I’m trying to come back more often. Balancing athletics with classes, student media and a social life isn’t impossible, but it’s definitely a balancing act. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? The best advice I ever got was from my high school coach. Whenever we ran poorly, he hated when we gave up. You could run your heart out and not have the best race of your life. I screwed up indoor divisionals my senior year. I bombed the second leg of a 4x8. It was then when he gave me the advice I remember to this day. He looked me right in the eyes and said, “We don’t practice giving up, and you just gave up. You come to practice every day and you put the work in. There’s no reason for you to do that.” That’s something that really stuck with me.
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TAPE TO TAPE Photo by Liz Flynn William Fällström receives a pass and looks for an opening during a 1-0 win against Boston College on October 19.
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Everything Happens for a Reason By: Mike Dalton
B
AM! That’s how hard life can hit you. All of us will feel like this at least once in our lives. It comes in many forms, whether it’s the death of a loved one, a traumatic experience, or a horrific injury. Perhaps the scariest part about it is that you have no idea when it’s going to happen. Lauren Wendland, a freshman midfielder for the Quinnipiac women’s soccer team, felt this. She was just a 10-year-old when life hit hard. Back then, Wendland was a member of a competitive swim club. Some of the children couldn’t afford to pay for the club, so they decided to have a car wash as a fundraiser to help those children and their parents financially. The car wash took place in a parking lot close to a busy intersection in Maine.
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During the fundraiser, several girls were holding signs across the street in order to get more customers, and someone asked Wendland and her friend to retrieve water bottles. “We crossed the street just fine,” Wendland remembered. “Then on the way back, the pedestrian light said to go, and an old guy, who was actually on his way to dialysis, turned on red and reared out of his lane. He was worried about the other kids on the street that he didn’t see me. I got dragged underneath the car for 20 feet.” Wendland had blacked out while being dragged underneath the car, but quickly regained consciousness. Surprisingly, she was able to stand up under her own power and walk to the sidewalk afterwards.
A few minutes later, an ambulance arrived and took Wendland and her mother, Sandra, to a nearby hospital where she stayed for the next two days. At first, paramedics thought that Wendland might’ve suffered a
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He was worried about the other kids on the street that he didn’t see me. I got dragged underneath the car for 20 feet.”
– Lauren Wendland October 2018
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broken neck, which would’ve ended any chances of a career in soccer. Doctors discovered that Wendland didn’t break her neck, but the injuries were still severe. “I fractured my jaw in two places, and part of it crushed my ear canal,” said Wendland. “I had to have jaw surgery and ear surgery. Then (the medical staff ) allowed me to go home.” This was just the beginning of what would become a long journey, one that most of Wendand’s teammates don’t know about her. Along with the broken jaw and crushed ear canal, Wendland suffered partial brain damage. As a result, she had to complete nine months of occupational therapy. During those sessions, Wendland recalled playing card games to help with her memory. October 2018
This was a result of her difficulty processing numbers and mapping things out in her head. “I’d play card games with numbers that I had to remember,” Wendland said. “(The occupational therapists) would put a problem in front of me, and I would say ‘Oh, the answer is this!’ and then they would ask ‘How did you get that?’ and I would completely forget.” Once she was finished with OT, physical therapy became the priority. During these sessions, Wendland worked closely with new trainer, Ciaran McCormick. Before he was her trainer, McCormick played soccer professionally in Ireland, and was a coach for one of Wendland’s former soccer clubs. “(McCormick) was really helpful in the mental aspect of things,” Wendland said. “He knew how to push me and help me believe in myself and that I can do this. Whether it was running or doing a simple soccer drill.” The duo formed a bond that’s remained strong to this day, even though the accident occurred nearly a decade ago. In fact, two days before my interview with Wendland, she texted McCormick, letting him know that the Bobcats had beaten Niagara on Sept. 29 to put themselves at the top of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). About a year after the car accident, she did what some people thought she might’ve never been able to do again. She stepped onto the soccer field with a new outlook on life. “(The accident) definitely made me appreciate every single moment I have on the field,” Wendland stated. “That goes for any athlete that’s had an injury, whether it’s in their sport or not. The time that you’re away from it, you realize how much you really love the sport.” As an athlete, Lauren has
undergone physical therapy for several injuries she’s suffered during her career, even if they’ve been off the field. Despite the numerous setbacks, Wendland became increasingly interested in the physical therapy field. “I find how the human body can recover from trauma or injury fascinating,” said Wendland. “Physical therapy is perfect (for me) because I’ve been on the patient side a ton of times. I would love to be the person that helps someone get back to what they love.” A few of Wendland’s
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“(The accident) definitely made me appreciate every single moment I have on the field.”
– Lauren Wendland
family members already work or plan on working in the medical field. Her older brother, Zach, is currently a firefighter/emergency medical technician (EMT) in East Hartford, and her sister-in-law, who’s a graduate student at Quinnipiac, is hoping to be a nurse practitioner after she graduates. Wendland’s accident isn’t something she can undo, but she never liked using her accident as an excuse, anyways. “I hope that everyone can look at me and be like ‘She came from that accident all the way to Quinnipiac by working hard’ and not letting the negative things in life get the best of her.” theqbsn.com
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National Treasures
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n the sport of hockey, as in life, there are milestones that each player strives to hit. Make your local travel team. Play on your high school varsity team. Get an offer to play in college. Hey, some lucky players even make it all the way to the professional level. That being said, one milestone stands out among the rest as the most prestigious of them all, the milestone that only a few players will ever achieve. That milestone is representing your country on a national team. This past summer, two members of the Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey team, Melissa Samoskevich and Kati Tabin, achieved this milestone. Samoskevich was named to the United States Under-22 National Select Team, while Tabin made Canada’s National Development Team. For Samoskevich, this isn’t her first time wearing the red, white and blue. She played for the U.S. U-18 National Team for two years before
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coming to Quinnipiac, playing in the World Junior Championship in 2014 and 2015. Despite that prior experience, every chance to put on the Stars and Stripes jersey is one to remember. “I’ve worn the jersey before, and it never gets old,” Samoskevich said. “It kind of serves as a reminder that you’re playing for something bigger than yourself.” For Tabin, this was her first opportunity to dawn the red, white and black for Team Canada, and the importance of reaching that goal was not lost on her. “It was almost surreal,” Tabin said. “I remember getting the email (that invited her to development camp) and I actually started crying, and I’m not much of an emotional person.” While the invite might have been a bit of a surprise for Tabin and her
family, it wasn’t as much of a surprise for Cassandra Turner, the head coach of Quinnipiac’s women’s ice hockey team. Turner watched Tabin grow and develop in her first two years in Hamden, and in her mind, the selection was welldeserved. “She’s just become so confident, and her speed and strength are so different than what they were before she got here,” Turner said. “We’ve had constant conversations with Hockey Canada about her, and she showed enough this year for them to invite her.” Both players went through a wild August and September with their respective national teams. Tabin was invited to Team Canada’s National Team Development Camp on July 30th, while Samoskevich was invited to USA Women’s Hockey’s Fall Festival on Aug. 3rd. Following that, it was announced October 2018
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that both players had made their respective national teams on Aug. 12th. Both players making the team meant that the two Bobcats would both be headed to Calgary, Alberta, for a three-game series in mid-August. The twist here, however, was that they’d be playing against each other for these three games. While they’d both rather play together, Samoskevich and Tabin knew they had a job to do. “We want to kick their butts,” Samoskevich said. “Once we hit the ice, all bets are off, but I was definitely throwing some chirps out there with her.” Tabin shared these sentiments. “It’s fun going into a corner and giving her a little shove,” Tabin said. “It was really cool, her representing her country and me representing mine and just battling.” That being said, the two are still teammates at heart, and two of the leaders of the Bobcats. So, even when you put them in different jerseys, they’re still going to have a little fun. “I remember, there was one point where our teams were in front of Canada’s net, and we were kind of shoving [each other]” Samoskevich said. “Me and Kati were on the outskirts, and all of a sudden, the fight kind of stopped, so I said to her ‘oh, you want to drop your gloves [and fight].’” For Samoskevich, there was another reason that made this tournament so special. Her siblings
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Maddie and Matthew, the second of whom she calls Mackie, both made the U.S. national team in their respective age groups. While Mackie and the U-17 boys team headed overseas to Slovakia, Maddie and the U-18 women’s team joined Melissa’s U-22 squad in Lake Placid and Calgary. For eldest sibling Melissa, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “To share that with two of
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“It was really cool, her representing her country and me representing mine and just battling.”
– Kati Tabin
my family members was amazing this summer,” Samoskevich said. “It was so cool because they’re finally growing up, and it’s cool to see them strive for their dreams too.” When talking specifically about her sister, she does admit that she gets a little emotional talking about her, and how much she’s grown. “She says ‘I’m her role model’,” Samoskevich said. “We’re best friends now because we got to share this
experience together, and I’m so proud of her.” So, for the time being, both players are back in Hamden, gearing up to lead the Bobcats to an ECAC Hockey title. That being said, both Samoskevich and Tabin were able to learn from their experiences with their national clubs. Now, they’re looking to impart their new knowledge on the rest of their Bobcat teammates. “We worked on supporting our teammates and supporting ourselves, so that’s a lot of reflecting,” Tabin said. “Making goals, for the week, for the month, for the year, stuff like that can really help the freshman class.” Samoskevich, is entering her second straight season as the Bobcats’ captain. For her, she’s always looking for new ways to be a leader, both on and off the ice. “I look up to [the older national team players] for what they do and how they carry themselves,” Samoskevich said. “So I feel like, if I follow in their footsteps, then we can do good things here.” For Coach Turner, the qualities that Samoskevich and Tabin bring to the table are exactly what she wants her team to emulate. “If you look at Kati’s success and Samo’s success, that’s why they’ve had opportunities to try out for their national teams,” Turner said. “They’re good players, but they work endlessly to get better.”
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FRESHMEN MAKING MOVES BY: JONATHAN BANKS
Dejan Duric –– Smooth, technical midfielder who has been the unsung hero of the team’s success this season –– Has started all 14 games for Quinnipiac and has played the entire match 11 times (leads the team in minutes played through 10/21).
Elisa van Winkel –– Cerebral player who seems to always take up good positions offensively –– Second on the team in shots (through 10/21) –– Tied for the team lead in goals (through 10/21)
Clara Lemal-Brown –– Speedster who has a knack for finding the try zone –– In second place on the team with 6 tries on the year –– All of her tries on the year have come at home
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Desi Burgart –– An under-the-radar player who has contributed right away for Rand Pecknold’s squad –– Has showed off his defensive prowess by excelling on both the penalty kill and 5-on-5 play –– Tied in second on the team in assists (through 10/21)
Selena Salas –– Has a distinct technical ability on the ball which has brought something different to Quinnipiac’s attacking play –– Tied for second on the team in goals and assists (through 10/21) –– Has registered four points in her last three games (through 10/21)
Lydia Jones –– Smart attacker with great court vision Quinnipiac Athletics/Liz Flynn
–– Has started all 19 matches she has played in –– Fourth on the team in points (through 10/21)
Lexi Adzija –– Good speed and offensive instincts –– Confident player who isn’t afraid to take chances on the ice –– Third in points and second in shots on team (through 10/21)
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Photo of the month Photo by Emma robertson Amanda Blum swoops in for a steal during a 2-0 loss to Michigan State on September 2. 14
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building bridges: the language of soccer BY: Will Fowler According to the MerriamWebster Dictionary, chemistry is defined as the science that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of substances and with the transformations that they undergo. As sports fans? We know better. Chemistry is described by how well teammates mesh with each other. It’s what separates an average team from a championship contender. Chemistry is the science that deals with harmony both in a locker room and on the pitch. And though it’s not measured by any one statistic, it’s easy to identify. When a team has chemistry, you can see it. You can feel it. A player on a team with strong chemistry knows where everyone is without having to see them. He can make the extra pass or double-team a forward without instruction because what follows is an unspoken understanding among teammates on how to cover it. In a sport in which 99 percent of the game is anticipation, knowing what your teammates are going to do before they do it is vital to success. Chemistry cannot be built, however, without harmony 16
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in a locker room. Players getting along off the pitch leads to players getting along on the pitch. A team with so many different countries and cultures on the same team may find harmony difficult to come by. For the Quinnipiac men’s soccer team, however, they’ve created an atmosphere that even the most cohesive locker rooms would be jealous of. “It’s more about the
one of the most global and widereaching sides he’s ever fielded. Among the countries represented in the 26-man roster are New Zealand, Norway, Northern Ireland, Spain, France, Ireland, Greece, Australia, and Germany – not to mention the 16 natives of the United States that bring a culture of their own. With all of these players having come from vastly different backgrounds,
“It’s more about the individuals coming in and being part of the group.” individuals coming in and being a part of the group. The culture of this program is already established,” men’s soccer head coach Eric Da Costa says. “We’ve had international players for as long as I’ve been here, so it’s about the guys coming in and the leadership within the group – them welcoming the new players in and allowing our new guys to be themselves.” Cultural diversity has been a common theme among Da Costa’s Quinnipiac squads, dating all the way back to his first season at the helm in 2005. This year’s team, however, is undoubtedly
it might have been essential to change their customs to fit those of America in order to find success – however, what Da Costa and his squad found was that the key to success was exactly the opposite. In fact, allowing players to show their culture and share their stories in the clubhouse has been a key to success in and of itself. “The locker room is very diverse,” says German midfielder Simon Hillinger. “For example, if you just listen to the music, people play their own music... last year we had a player from Trinidad and he October 2018
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Zealand or Australia, and they flew thirty hours to get here,” Hillinger explained. “One player can’t even go back home for Christmas to see his family. We are more together. We are more a team. We are more, as we say every single day, like a family.” And those familial bonds continue to grow with a dozen athletes who are an ocean away from their hometowns.
“We talk about being a family pretty often. It’s one of our core values,” preached Da Costa about the team’s unity. “We practice that every day. It’s about spending time with one another and getting to know each other as someone other than the soccer player.” The attempts of Da Costa and the returning players to create an open locker room have not gone unnoticed, either. With three incoming freshmen from outside the United States, creating a sense of acceptance and friendliness is a tall order – yet, it’s something they’ve been able to bring to fruition for freshman internationals Jordon Bennett (Australia), Dejan Duric (Germany), and Oriac Vila (Spain). “Having a bunch of different nationalities and cultures obviously could be a bit of a struggle for everyone coming in, but everyone is very accepting, especially for guys whose English isn’t that great,” said Bennett, a freshman fullback from Tumi Umi, Australia. Creating and upholding a sense of cohesion in a locker room filled with cultural diversity starts from the top and trickles its way down. In this case, the “top” isn’t Da Costa – it’s senior captain Matthew Taylor, who strives to keep a positive mindset within the team both on and off the pitch. Taylor, himself a native of Ireland, has carried the bulk of captain duties over the course of this season. He, like many others in the squad, finds the value in diversity October 2018 iz Flynn
would always play his Trini music. It was kind of funny. It’s cool to see that and experience that.” In fact, diversity plays more than one role in the Bobcat locker room. Not only does it allow the players to get a glimpse into what other cultures are like, but it draws a greater amount of regard among teammates. “There’s more respect for each other. People came from New
Liz Flynn
among teammates. “With different personalities and different cultures, you get a look at everywhere around the world. There are people from all over,” says Taylor. “And back home, it’s just obviously people from Ireland, so it gives you a better look at diversity around.” Taylor also helps to create bonds between players when they aren’t on the pitch, taking an ice bath, or in the athletic training room. Off the pitch bonding can be invaluable with players of so many different backgrounds, and that is something that everyone, stateside or international, enjoys together. “[We] hang out in the cafeteria a lot,” joked senior defender Oscar Evans from New Zealand. “Everyone just hangs out a lot. We’re all good friends. There’s no groups or cliques. Everyone just gets along.” And those kinds of relationships are essential for a team’s success on the pitch. Because no matter how tight a locker room is, there are still challenges that arise with an influx of
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internationals. “Every year, it’s new. Every year, it’s different. The challenge is getting people to become comfortable in this new environment. For the international guys, and even some of the domestic guys, you’re leaving home. You’re leaving that comfort zone, and you’re coming into a place that’s new,” explained Da Costa. “You’re trying to figure out how you fit into that and what your role is and who you can be. But when you have a group as welcoming as we are, that transition is a little bit easier.” For Bennett, Duric, and Vila, that transition is one that they’re still in the process of. For veteran players like Hillinger, Taylor, and Evans, they are looking to extend the arms of their open locker room to the incoming players. Despite the cultural differences among everyone, though, there is one thing they all have in common: a love for soccer. And when they step onto the pitch, race, culture, and native language all get thrown out the window.
“When you’re on the pitch, there’s not too much of a difference in terms of culture, because it’s a game. You’re all focused on winning,” said Evans. That’s why each and every one of them is here, after all. To play the sport that they love at the collegiate level. And to win. When the players put on their jerseys and step onto the pitch, race doesn’t matter. Or language. Or skin color. The only thing that matters is ability. Because here’s the thing about soccer: it knows no cultural borders. Soccer does not discriminate based on color or native language or wealth. Soccer is the only thing on this planet that can take two individuals from two completely different upbringings and place them on a truly equal playing field. On its own, soccer is a language – and it’s a language spoken by men, women, and children in all corners of the globe. That’s why it’s called The Beautiful Game.
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W I N T E R By: phil akre, Tj brown Men’s Basketball
Don’t let the 12-21 overall record fool you, because last year was a definite improvement for this program. Through 33 games, current graduate student Cameron Young led the team with averages of 18.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Baker Dunleavy & Co. showed promise for the future with their ability to connect with younger players while staying competitive in-conference. The Bobcats should expect a significant jump in the standings this year, both inside and outside of the MAAC. Sophomore guard Rich Kelly should take the leap forward as one of the better young guards in the MAAC this season, as he was named to the MAAC All-Rookie team. Of the six new freshman, keep an eye out for Savion Lewis, who was voted New York’s 2018 Mr. Basketball after averaging 34 points per game through his senior year of high school. Tyree Pickron and Matt Balanc are names to remember, too. The team will face arguably its toughest test in program history when they open the season on the road against the defending national champion Villanova Wildcats. Baker Dunleavy’s return to his alma mater will kick off a non-conference schedule that includes UMass, New Hampshire, Stony Brook and Drexel, among others. This team turned heads a season ago. With new weapons in year two of the Dunleavy era, expect good things from this exciting team. 20
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Women’s Basketball
With two straight NCAA tournament appearances under its belt, the Quinnipiac women’s basketball team could certainly make another run this season. Head coach Tricia Fabbri has a .813 winning percentage over the last four seasons. Crazy. After going undefeated in MAAC play (18-0) last year, the Bobcats went 1-1 in the tournament, defeating Miami and falling to powerhouse UConn. This year, Quinnipiac’s formula for success will come down to Fabbri, the gold rush and staying healthy. Losing seniors Carly Fabbri and Sarah Shewan was tough, but the team still returns with the majority of its impact players. Leading the way is redshirt senior Jen Fay, the reigning MAAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player. She led the Bobcats in scoring with 13.3 PPG and 6.7 RPG a season ago. Senior guard/forward Aryn McClure was named to the All-MAAC First Team and should be a go-to scorer, too. After Vanessa Udoji tore her ACL last season, it will be interesting to see how her junior year progresses. A road contest against Texas will be the team’s toughest of the regular season. Playing host to Central Michigan and Central Florida will almost certainly be close games, too.
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P R E V I E W and Brendan o’sullivan Men’s Hockey Let’s be clear: the 2017 season was a disaster for the Bobcats. They finished 16-18-4 and didn’t make it past the second round of the ECAC Hockey Tournament. However, 2018 should be very different. The program executed a major overhaul, as 12 new faces are in the mix. Of the new recruits, keep an eye on Peter Diliberatore, a sixth-round pick of the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He has the chance to be real good, real fast. Head coach Rand Pecknold could see major success from his top line, one that includes three skilled forwards in Wyatt Bongiovanni, Odeen Tufto and Ethan De Jong. The team returns its top three players – Tufto, Alex Whelan and Chase Priskie – who combined for 36 goals and 85 points last season. Of the three, Tufto should remain arguably the team’s best playmaker, as he dominated the ice nearly every time out. Questions remain, however, primarily between the pipes. Detroit Red Wings prospect Keith Petruzzelli impressed in his first collegiate season, but junior Andrew Shortridge will have something to say after posting a 2.36 GAA and .906 save %. Quinnipiac will benefit from a relatively ‘light’ out-of-conference schedule, as they’ll face American International College twice, Holy Cross, Vermont and Maine, among others. But, will the team make its return to Lake Placid? If the mix of youth and upperclassmen succeeds, book it. October 2018
Women’s Hockey
After nearly a decade of continued success, the Bobcats finished 2017 at the underwhelming mark of 16-17-3. The playoffs were short, as St. Lawrence bounced Quinnipiac in two games from the ECAC Quarterfinals. With six new faces, the team looks revamped heading into the year. All eyes will be on freshmen Lexie Adzija, a four-year veteran of the PWHL who helped win the league’s championship with Oakville this past season. Senior captain Melissa Samoskevich returns as the team’s primary goal scorer after tallying 15 a season ago. She was one of the four Bobcats who recorded at least eight goals. Considering the team struggled to get points on the board last season, the Bobcats will be aided by the emergence of sophomore Brooke Bonsteel, who tallied 10 goals in her first season in Hamden. In goal, Abbie Ives returns after posting a stellar 1.78 GAA and .921 save percentage. The team’s toughest tests will come later in the season, when they face Minnesota-Duluth on the road and head to North Country for matchups with Clarkson and St. Lawrence. But, with fresh talent and the return of key playmakers, look for the Bobcats to rebound in 2018.
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OPINION To the top By Kevin Higgins @Kevin_Higgins_
Dead last. Bottom of the totem pole. Or, quite simply - the worst. That’s what was thought of the Quinnipiac men’s basketball team heading into the 2017-18 season. The Bobcats were the cellar-dwellers of the MAAC preseason coaches’ poll last year with just 19 points, 7 behind the next worst team. Funny how a year changes things, huh? Though this year’s coaches’ poll has yet to be released, I can assure you that Quinnipiac will be nowhere near the bottom. Actually, they’ll be contending for the top spot. With their mix of playmaking, experience and youth, Baker Dunleavy’s squad will be a force in the MAAC. Speaking of the head coach, Dunleavy recently signed a 5-year extension with the school through the 2022-23 season. It’s not often that coaches sign an extension after just one season, but given the success Quinnipiac found last year, it’s more than warranted. The team went from that last place preseason finish to the MAAC tournament semifinals, where they fell to Fairfield. That’s enough about last year, though; the Bobcats have higher expectations than their seventh place regular season finish in the MAAC. Two words describe the main reason Quinnipiac should expect great success this season: Cam Young. Young set a new Quinnipiac singleseason scoring record last year, netting 622 points for the Bobcats, and is now the 22
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highest scorer returning to the entire conference this season (18.8 PPG). Quinnipiac actually caught a break with Young being able to return in the first place. The NCAA granted Young an extra year of eligibility, as the former transfer student is enrolled in graduate school this year. In addition to Young, there are three other seniors on the roster this season: the high-
“
motor Abdulai Bundu, as well
to highlight one of the most promising recruits this program has ever brought in: Savion Lewis. The Long Island native was named New York’s Mr. Basketball in 2018 while averaging 34 points and 7 assists per game for Half Hollow Hills East High School. Lewis projects to slot in with Kelly to add depth to the point guard spot, with Dunleavy likely to run a fair amount of two or three-guard sets to get them on the court together. Dunleavy clearly put an emphasis on guard play in his recruiting process over the
With their mix of playmaking, experience and youth, Baker Dunleavy’s squad will be a force in the MAAC.”
as the sharpshooting Robinson twins, Aaron and Andrew. Other key players returning for the Bobcats are Rich Kelly, who was on the MAAC AllRookie team last year while leading the Bobcats in assists per game (4.7), and Jacob Rigoni, the big Australian sophomore who led the team in three-pointers (75) last year. All of them should provide valuable leadership for a team with plenty of newcomers. With six freshman on the roster this year, almost half the team will have never played a Division 1 game before, so they’ll need all the help they can get. While we’re talking about the freshman, it’s important
offseason. As I mentioned, there are six freshman for the Bobcats, and every single one of them is a guard. Lewis isn’t the only one of that group who will play a significant factor in the team’s success, though. Matt Balanc, Tyrese Williams, and Tyree Pickron all look to be ready to play regular minutes for the squad, and they’ll likely end up competing with each other for playing time. This is a good problem to have, though. Dunleavy expressed how important it is for teams to have depth, and this Quinnipiac team certainly has a lot of it. In today’s everchanging game, teams are getting smaller and smaller, implementing guard play more
than ever. Considering the Bobcats have 11 - yes, you read that correctly - 11 of their 15 players listed as guards, this team has a modern look, as they are both quick to drive and dangerous from long range. If you’re going to take anything from this article, let it be this: Quinnipiac can go toe-totoe with anyone. Did I say anyone? Because their first matchup this season is against a somewhat decent team - the defending national champion Villanova Wildcats. Adding to the excitement, Dunleavy will be going back to his alma mater and his former coach in Jay Wright. Dunleavy reached the Sweet Sixteen in 2005 as a player, and then won the national championship in 2016 as associate head coach, both under Wright. To be the best you’ve got to beat the best, right? Well, I wouldn’t expect the Bobcats to pull that one out, but I do think they have a bright season ahead of them. Overall, this team (by MAAC standards) looks loaded, so don’t be surprised if the Bobcats make a run at a conference title this season. Anything less than a top four finish will be an underachievement for these guys, and with Young, Rigoni, Kelly and company leading the way under Dunleavy’s tutelage, I’d expect them to battle for the conference crown. And maybe - just maybe - if everything breaks right, this team could find itself dancing come March.
October 2018
Meet the eboard
Kirby Paulson
Position: Chairman Major: Journalism, Minor: Public Relations Winthrop, Massachusetts
Emma robertson
Liz Flynn
Position: Vice President Majors: Journalism, Graphic and Interactive Design China, Maine
Position: Editor-In-Chief Major: Media Studies, Minor: Sports Studies Long Island, New York
will fowler
Position: Online Editor Major: Journalism Sparta, New Jersey
joshua silverman
bryan schwartz
Position: Social Media Manager Major: Journalism, Minor: Management Westchester, New York
Position: Broadcast Manager Major: Journalism, Minor: Management Stamford, Connecticut
Patrick Pitts
Position: Broadcast Manager Major: Journalism, Minor: Spanish Quincy, Massachusetts October 2018
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