The Arena Needs Changes

 

By Jeremy Schilling

 

(HAMDEN, Conn.)- The TD Banknorth Sports Center is a top notch venue. It is being praised far and wide, even after being open for almost two years, as one of the best college sports complexes in the Northeast. It just has one little problem: the sponsor’s name has changed.

Earlier in 2008 TD Banknorth and Commerce Bank merged, and on July 23^rd, the newly formed company announced that their new name will be TD Bank, with the slogan of “America’s Most Convenient Bank.” It was going to be named TD Commerce, but that met a legal challenge, so the newly formed company decided to go a different direction.

            According to Quinnipiac Director of Athletic Communications Chuck Menke, “We remain in contact with TD Banknorth as it undergoes this re-branding and operations-combination process with Commerce Bank. At the appropriate time in this process we will make any necessary name changes in conjunction with the new TD Bank. Until then we will continue to identify and operate the facility as the TD Banknorth Sports Center.”

When you look at the Sports Center, it is overwhelming to think of everything a name change would mean. First, there is the big sign on the outside of the arena that would need to be re-done. There are also the logos on the hardwood floor of the basketball court, and logos on the boards of the ice rink. There are all the signs in the arena and around campus. It even goes farther then actual signs do. Every pamphlet, mailing, promotional item, media guide would have to be changed. If Quinnipiac Athletics chooses to make these changes, it will surely take lots of time and effort.

            And not that a sports site is in the business of giving financial advice, but if someone is reading this for the first time and would like to know how this affects their financial portfolio – well, as they say, talk to your financial advisor.

Two Bobcats selected in 2008 MLB Draft

Two Bobcats Taken In MLB Draft
by Tom Butto

HAMDEN – Last week, the Quinnipiac Bobcats baseball team had an honor that not many college baseball programs get to have. What was the honor in a season that yielded only 16 wins?

Two players on the Bobcats team were drafted by two different teams in the 2008 MLB First Year Player Draft.

John Delaney, a senior utility player, and Chris Gloor, a junior pitcher, were the two players that had their lifelong boyhood dreams come true - getting drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers and the Detroit Tigers respectively.

Delaney, who got drafted by the Brewers with the 758th overall pick in the 25th round, was very informed about what round he would get drafted in, and was even analyzing the picks during the day.

“I was projected to go between the 15th and 25th rounds and Milwaukee and Pittsburgh showed the most interest leading up to today. I saw that Pittsburgh was taking a lot of pitchers early. Once it got to the later rounds, my father and I were glued to the computer tracking all their picks,” said Delaney.

Even though Delaney and his family couldn’t move from their computer in anticipation, his head coach, Coach Dan Gooley, knew that he had an excellent chance to be a prospect a couple years ago.

“I realized Delaney had a chance to be a prospect during his junior year at the university. He learned to attack right center field with his hitting. Marc Scarpa (hitting coach) worked on having him attack hitting [there],” said Gooley.

Once this happened, “he started to hit the ball to both fields. Once he realized he could do that, there was no way pitchers could pitch to him only one way,” said Gooley.

And this happened after Delaney was already named to the All-Northeast Conference First Team the year before when he had a .355 batting average.

However, after Delaney learned how to hit to all parts of the field, he only had a .301 and .337 batting average during his last two years on the team, while getting selected to two more All-Northeast Conference First Teams.

The results not only showed in his batting average, but also in every other offensive category as Delaney led the team this year with 9 home runs, 40 RBI, 66 hits, 15 doubles, and a .571 slugging percentage.

With those numbers there is no doubt why the Brewers chose Delaney in Gooley’s mind.

“Like I said, I knew he would get drafted. Not only can he hit, but he is also going to be an outstanding utility player. He can play shortstop, center field, right field, 2nd, and 3rd base. He runs well and also has a strong major league arm,” said Gooley

However, let’s not forget about Chris Gloor, who also had an impressive year and has improved significantly since his freshman year.

Gloor had a breakout year during his sophomore campaign, posting a 4-2 record with a 4.22 ERA. Gloor, who is 6’6 and 250 pound lefty, also racked up 68 strikeouts over 59.2 innings.

This was the year when Coach Gooley saw Gloor had a chance to be a prospect and get drafted.

“During his sophomore year he adjusted to college hitters. The key was when he decided to work on the inside plate. Once he established the inside fastball, that’s when I saw he had a chance to get drafted,” said Gooley.

Gloor followed up his sophomore season with a solid junior year on the diamond posting a 5.01 ERA while striking out 55 batters over 59.1 innings. Gloor also closed his college career out in style striking out 10 batters over 6 2/3 innings against Mount St. Mary’s, who were the NEC Tournament Champions.

“I think the Tigers will bring him up as a starter,” said Gooley. “Gloor is the type of pitcher that can give a team seven innings because of his command of the inside part of the plate.”

So what does a coach do who has already coached big leaguer Turk Wendell and potential Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell, as well as these two soon to be rookies?

Go out to a High School Junior Showcase to try and find some more future big league prospects.

Letter From the Editor

Dear Loyal Readers,

As Steve and I graduate from Quinnipiac and the radio station we have called home since August 2004, we are left with the memories, the experiences, and the camaraderie that marked our time at the “Soundtrack of Quinnipiac.”

It has been our honor to lead coverage of Quinnipiac’s sports teams for the last 3 years. In our time here, WQAQ’s Sports Department graduated from a broadcast only operation to a broadcast, online, and print operation. We have grown from a department numbering only five hearty souls to one numbering over 30. We have expanded our game broadcast schedule by over 70 contests, and have earned awards from the Quinnipiac University Athletics Department for our efforts.

Our station has grown exponentially in the four years Steve and I spent there, and the Sports Department has led that charge. It has not only been a joy to lead this department, it has been a privilege for which we both are extremely grateful.

We would be remiss if we did not thank a number of administrators and faculty members at Quinnipiac. Jack McDonald, the Director of Athletics and Recreation, has been a monumental help to the entire WQAQ Sports Department. He is a steadfast believer in student media, and we are forever indebted to him for that. His leadership makes him one of the greatest Athletic Directors in the United States – Quinnipiac and WQAQ are extremely lucky to have him on our side.

Also thanks to Ken Sweeten, Chuck Menke and the entire QU Sports Information Staff. Without their assistance, WQAQ’s broadcasters would have been at an impasse. Sweeten’s assistance before, during, and after every broadcast was essential, and not a day went by we were not amazed with the helpfulness Sweeten’s team showed. We must also thank Daniel Brown and the Student Center staff, and Professor David Valone, the faculty advisor to WQAQ.

When students return to campus in August, Mike Radomski and Mike Silverman will be leading this great sports caravan. Indeed, this department is in splendid hands – bigger and better things are sure to come.

If we may offer one piece of advice to the students returning in the fall: soak up the experience. There is nothing like the college experience, and it goes entirely too quickly.

In closing, there is just one more thing left to say:

Let’s go Bobcats.

Sincerely,

Seth D. Rothman
WQAQ Sports Director ’05-’08

&

Steven J. Tisi
WQAQ Sports Director ‘06-’08

Bobcats finish 9th at NEC Championships

By: Jeremy Schilling

The Quinnipiac University Golf team finished up the spring 2008 season with a 9th place finish at the NEC Championships on May 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in Hershey, PA. The team scores for this tournament are calculated by adding together the best (lowest) 4 scores from each day. The Bobcats finished with a total of 912 over the 3-day, 54 hole tournament, with their scores being 311 on Day 1, 300 on Day 2, and 301 on Day 3.

Sacred Heart won the team portion of the competition with a score of 870. Long Island University and Central Connecticut State followed. 11 teams in total participated. The individual winner was Monmouth University’s Anthony Campanile, (who has his roots in the Jersey golf scene) who shot a 54 hole total of 212, 4 under par. He defeated Sacred Heart’s Patrick Fillian by one shot. In total, only 4 players finished under par.

Individually for the Bobcats, they were led by Ian O’Connor, who tied for 14th place overall with a total of 224. Brady Giroux followed with a 54-hole total of 225. Rounding it out for Quinnipiac were Ryan Reynolds, Charlie Niland, and Jayson Loranger, who all had scores of 235.

That concludes the spring 2008 golf season, and 2007-2008 school year for the Bobcats. That also concludes the college golf career for Kyle Chumas, who graduates in the coming week. The rest of the Bobcats’ now have the summer to work on their games and make themselves better for the upcoming fall season that will be here before we know it.

Baker the Elder Statesman for Bobcats

                                                            By Zach Smart

A look into Jeremy Baker’s cell phone says it all.  Every significant player to emerge from the Washington, D.C.-area, all of whom Baker still maintains close ties with, is somewhere along the list.  Roy Hibbert.  From Michael Beasley, the surefire first-round pick in this year’s NBA draft, to Roy Hibbert, who’s also certain to be playing in a district far from the 2-0-2, 2-4-0, or 3-0-1, next year, Baker never keeps his homeboys far from his presence. 

He’s more D.C.  than the Whitehouse.  Maryland-bred players know Baker like a surrogate family member.  Hooping on some of the city’s toughest courts and most competitive tournaments while playing alongside Hibbert and company on the Blue Devils AAU circuit, Baker has been there every step of the way. 

His pin-point passes and hounding defense, however, has taken the 6-foot-2 combination guard well beyond his D.C.  roots.  Baker spent his first two seasons in the country’s woodworks, helping a pair of junior colleges in Texas and Kansas garner some national visibility.

The cousin of former Quinnipiac point guard Rob Monroe, who authored a legendary four-year stay with the Bobcats, and the childhood friend of DeMario Anderson, the super-athletic mid-major All-American who averaged 21 points in leading the Bobcats to a playoff berth this season, Baker seems like the next D.C.  product primed to make a big splash on the Quinnipiac landscape. 

Oh and while we’re on it, Evann Baker, the Quinnipiac guard who averaged 11 points and handed out 70 assists en route to being named to the Northeast Conference All-Rookie team, is the younger brother of Jeremy.  Evann is the third oldest Baker in a basketball bloodline that stems from 4^th and Delafield. 

Baker is a transfer via Garden City Community College, a member of the mega-competitive Jayhawk Community Conference.  After surfacing as one of the conferences leaders in assists (3.5) while shouldering the onus to lock down the opposing team’s top scorer, Baker concluded his stop at Garden City a first team All-Conference selection and JUCO All-American candidate. 

The Bobcats will need every ounce of this defensive prowess.  They registered amongst the worst in team defense in the NEC last season, notorious for surrendering career nights to wild cards like Mark Socoby (Maine), Eric Gilchrese (New Hampshire), and Joe Seymour (Central Connecticut State).   The emphasis on perimeter defense was sorely lacking at times.  The Bobcats will look to right the ship by plugging “JB” (as he’s known to the Quinnipiac outside world) into the starting lineup. 

Moore has said he’s comfortable with Baker operating the offense or holding down the swingman position.  On a team that’s front-loaded with guards, Baker is likely to be plugged in as a small forward next season.  With last year’s starting point guard, Casey Cosgrove, weighing his transfer options,  Baker could also be called upon to operate the offense. 

Quinnipiac’s image was recently tinged with reports of an ailing Academic Progress Rate.  In the NCAA’s recent APR announcement, it was declared that Quinnipiac will lose two scholarships over the next two years.  Three of the five seniors from the 2006-2007 Quinnipiac team that former coach Joe DeSantis molded failed to graduate and it has slightly hampered the program that Tom Moore (the former UConn assistant) inherited this season. 

Baker, who had to sit out this year due to NCAA transfer rules, clocked a 2.5 GPA in his first semester at the University.  A sociology major with the emblematic sociologist perspective, Baker said he’d like to revive the image.  With Baker, along with guards Andrew Cashin (Dean’s List) and Steve Robinson (Dean’s List) setting the tone in the classroom this year, Quinnipiac hopes to right the ship in that department as well. 

From Nate Pondexter to Anderson, the Northeast Conference school situated in Hamden, Conn., has become a pipeline for some for some of the city’s most overlooked players. 

And with the recent signing of Harold Washington, a guard from Brandywine, Md., it looks as if the beat will continue. 

Baker has seen his buddies and former teammates prosper at that next level.   Still unknown outside of the D.C.  landscape, it appears to be Baker’s turn. 

 

 

Golf readies for NEC Championships

Golf readies for NEC Championships
By Jeremy Schilling
April 30, 2008

HAMDEN — The Quinnipiac Bobcats Golf team played twice in the last week as they gear up for this weekend’s Northeast Conference Championships. In the Peacock Invitational held on April 22 in Neshanic Station, NJ, the Bobcats finished 9th out of 12 teams. And in the Northeast Invitational held on April 24-25 in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, they finished 3rd out of 10 teams, their best finish of the spring season so far.

At the Peacock, the Bobcats finished with a team score of 320. Monmouth University won that portion of the competition with a score of 295, a 5 stroke win over Rider. Individually the Bobcats were led by Jayson Loranger who carded an 18-hole score at the Neshanic Valley Golf Course of 76. That gave Loranger a 9th place finish overall in the individual portion of the competition. He was followed by Ryerson Stinson who shot 78, Ryan Reynolds with 79, Ben Cook with 87 and Kyle Chumas with 91.

At the Northeast Invitational held on the Green Valley Golf Course, the Bobcats shot a team score of 608 tying them with Central Connecticut State for 3rd place. The winner was Bryant University who shot a team score of 590. Individually for the Bobcats they were led by Brady Giroux who shot a 36-hole score of 146 that left him with a 4th place finish in the individual competition. He was followed by Charlie Niland with a 152, Jayson Loranger with a 155, Ian O’Connor with a 156 and Ryan Reynolds with a 162.

Now the Bobcats look to cap their season off right with a good showing at the Northeast Conference Championships this weekend.

“We had two good showings at the tournaments and I feel very eager and optimistic about the conference tournament this weekend. The guys are playing better than they have all season. We have three sub par rounds this season and I know we can add to that list,” head coach John O’Connor said.

“Ian O’Connor and Ryan Reynolds shot two under par rounds and Brady Giroux shot three under par at the URI event,” O’Connor continued. “Freshman Charlie Niland is beginning to show that he can go low while walk-ons Jayson Loranger and Ryan Reynolds have both had top ten finishes. The conference has seven good teams and any one of the teams can win. I’m hoping its Quinnipiac!”

If O’Connor’s hopes come to fruition they will have to do it this weekend, May 2-3, on the Hershey Links Golf Club in Hershey, PA. Tee Times both days start at 9 a. m. After struggling out of the gate and for most of the season, the Bobcats will be looking to end their season on a high note with a good showing in front of the best the Northeast Conference has to offer. Now they just need to execute and go low.

NEC Women’s Lacrosse Champion Decided in Classic Fashion

NEC Women’s Lacrosse Champion Decided in Classic Fashion
By TJ Buzzeo
April 29, 2008

HAMDEN — Many expected that the re-match between the Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart women’s lacrosse teams would be a great game, however few thought it would be a classic.

The lead flipped back and forth between both teams several times, with goals being scored almost at will until the 16:33 mark in the game. After sophomore midfielder Lyndsey Banach scored to tie the game for the Bobcats at 13, the game was scoreless until the 2:18 mark when the Pioneers senior attack Liz Ottey scored to regain the lead for Sacred Heart.

Junior midfielder Tiffany Manzi tied the game for the Bobcats with her third goal of the game with just 32 seconds remained in the game. However, the excitement would not stop there as sophomore attack Kelly Bruneau had two shots on goal with 14 seconds remaining and was unable to give the Bobcats the lead.

Sophomore goalie Chelsea Wagner was able to stop both of Bruneau’s shots and get the ball up to her offense with just enough time for junior attack Amanda Williams to set up sophomore attack Carissa Hauser for her fifth goal of the game to win it for the Pioneers.

The first seven minutes of the game were sloppily played as seven goals were scored and a numerous amount of penalties called. At the end of that seven minute span Quinnipiac held a 4-3 lead, but would be without senior attack Katy Delagi who left the game with a leg injury immediately following her second goal of the game which came with 24:17 remaining in the first half.

Although the quality of game play improved as the first half went along, gaols were still being scored almost at will. The Bobcats had their biggest lead of the game with 4:12 remaining in the first half, when junior midfielder Ashley Valentine was able to beat Wagner to extend the lead 10-7. Any thoughts of a comfortable win for Quinnipiac were thrown out the window almost immediately when Sacred Heart scored two quick goals to cut the deficit to one at the half.

The second half was very similar to the first with the lead changes and the inability of either team to pull away from the other. Then, with three seconds left and overtime looming overhead Hauser was able to sneak a shot past sophomore goalie Hannah Nelson to win the game for the Pioneers.

Quinnipiac played well in their first ever NEC title game, but as Quinnipiac head coach Danie Caro put it, “Sacred Heart made plays when it counted.”

After the game the All-Tournament team was announced and three Bobcats were honored. They were Manzi who had five goals and an assist in the two games, Delagi who had three goals and an assist, and senior defender Jamie Zeitler who added a goal in the championship game to go along with her tremendous defense.

With only Delagi and Zeitler graduating, and having the NEC Player of the Year (Manzi), the NEC Defender of the Year (Nelson) and the Coach of the Year (Caro) returning the Bobcats are in a position to make another run at the NEC Championship again next year.

Ready for the Ride: Oppenheimer, Benzing help Bobcats advance to Motor City

Ready for the Ride: Oppenheimer, Benzing help Bobcats advance to Motor City
By Sam Friedman
April 27, 2008

HAMDEN — There were plenty of reasons for the Bobcats to leave it all out on the field on Saturday. A chance to make the playoffs after starting the season 6-0. A chance to earn a trip to Detroit for the 2008 Great Western Lacrosse League playoffs. An opportunity to silence the opposing team’s trash talking, as both teams did plenty of that throughout the game.

After a slow start to the game which saw multiple misfired passes, a low shot total (13 combined), and a lot of fatigue for both teams ended with an exciting finish as the Bobcats got a very late extra man goal from freshman Jack Oppenheimer with 1:08 left in regulation on Senior Day to send the Bobcats to Detroit as the number four seed in the conference tournament.

For most of the first quarter it was clear just how much the travelling had taken a toll on the players’ bodies. Bellarmine was at the end of a five game road trip. Quinnipiac had just come back from a four game swing of their own. Both teams traded bad passes yet scored twice in the opening frame. The Knights Shane Anderson scored his first of two goals just three and a half minutes in with a shot that was too low for Benzing to reach. Ted Dimond answered with 8:46 remaining in the first to even the score. Oppenheimer earned his first of two goals in the first, with a low shot of his own past Knights goalie Scott Bowles to give the Bobcats a 2-1 lead.

After Matt Holland re-tied the game, Todd Kaiser scored his eighth goal of the year two and a half minutes into the second quarter by intercepting a bad pass from Bowles and circling the net and shot it in to give Quinnipiac a 3-2 lead. The game intensity picked up, as both Benzing and Bowles were forced to make quick decisions to keep the score low, and both goalies had the fortune of seeing shots go off the goalposts instead of past them for goals. The score was 3-2 at the half.

In the second half the teams began to play more aggressively. Just as the Knights had killed a 30 second pushing penalty from Hessel on his push from behind on Poerio, Dilan Graham gave the Bobcats another man advantage five seconds after Hessel was released from his infraction. Fortunately for Bellarmine, the Bobcats failed to score on either man advantage.

After Dimond scored his second goal of the game with 9:19 remaining in the third, Andersen got one back for Bellarmine with 2:49 left in the third. The Knights also got a man advantage on a delayed slashing call on Maceranka, but they did not score. The score was 4-3 after three.

Bellarmine’s season and career goals leader Adam Gardner scored two goals 29 seconds apart to give the Knights a 5-4 lead with 8:12 remaining, but Bobcat sophomore Zach Dendas responded on a man up with 5:57 left by firing a quick shot through a screen past Bowles.

Geoff Griffiths of the Knights was sent off for cross-checking with 1:36 left in regulation, and rather than wait for sudden death, Oppenheimer fired a low shot past Bowles throught traffic with 1:08 left to steal the spotlight. The Bobcat’s defense, with some help from Benzing, was able to hold off the Knight’s desperate final attack for the 6-5 win.

“I knew if I got a chance to play I would stick one,” Oppenheimer said of his game-winning tally. “Messina moved it down to me on the wing and I knew I was going to rip it.”

“In the big picture we talked about what our goals were,” coach Eric Fekete said. “we added this playoff, the team’s been ready for it all season, and that’s been our goal all season. If we go to Detroit, we’ve got a shot at the bid. This team’s worked hard, and I’m proud of them.”

Coach Fekete also spoke positively about the seniors who will play at least one more game in a Bobcats uniform.

“It’s a really unique group of seniors. Those guys are athletic and savvy. All these guys in their own unique way chipped into the success of the team. This is a team thing and they’ve done a great job.”

Bellarmine finished 7-7 on the season, 0-5 in conference play, and 1-4 on their road trip. Quinnipiac was 2-3 in conference play and 8-4 on the season. The Bobcats will play Notre Dame at 5 PM in Michigan on Friday, and the Buckeyes will face the Pioneers following the conclusion of the first game. The Championship game and automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA Tournament will be on Sunday an noon.

NOTES: Messina had two assists, on both of Oppenheimer’s goals. … Kasier and Poerio had an assist each for the Bobcats. Jamie Floris had the Knight’s only assist on Gardner’s second goal. … A goal in the 4th quarter by Oppenheimer was nullified because he was in the crease when he scored.

Bobcats Play in Rhode Island and Maryland, Get Two Top 15 Finishes

Bobcats Play in Rhode Island and Maryland, Get Two Top 15 Finishes
By Jeremy Schilling
April 27, 2008

HAMDEN — The Quinnipiac University Men’s Golf Team played in two events over the last 2 weeks and came out with two top 15 finishes. They started out April 12-13 at The New England’s where they finished in 10th place, and then the Mount St. Mary’s Invitational where they finished in 13th place.

At The New England’s, where the Bobcats finished 10th, Yale University topped everyone with a team score of 583. The Bobcats shot 641. Quinnipiac was led individually by Charlie Niland who tied for 39th overall with a 36-hole score of 159. Next was Ryan Reynolds with a score of 160. He was followed by Ian O’Connor with a 163, Brady Giroux with a 164, and Jayson Loranger with a 165.

Next, on April 18-19, at the Mount St. Mary’s Invitational, the Bobcats finished 13th with a team score of 919. Longwood University won the team portion with a score 863. Individually for the Bobcats they were led by Jayson Loranger who had a 54-hole score of 227, placing him 28th overall in the individual portion. Next was Ryan Reynolds with a 233, Ian O’Connor with a 235, and Brady Giroux and Charlie Niland who both had 236.

Women’s Lacrosse Advances to the Championship Game

Women’s Lacrosse Advances to the Championship Game
By TJ Buzzeo
April 25, 2008

HAMDEN — Earlier today the Quinnipiac’s women’s lacrosse team beat Mount St. Mary’s 12-11 to advance to the NEC Championship. The slim victory marks the first playoff win for the Bobcats in their NEC history.

The Mount came out red hot to start the game and took an early 7-2 lead in the first half. Then Head Coach Danie Caro called a timeout and got her team’s act together. The Bobcats came out of the timeout and scored the last four goals of the half cutting the deficit to one.

Junior, Midfielder Katelyn Catanese and sophomore, Attack Ashley “AJ” Johnson scored six of the seven goals for Mount St. Mary’s. Catanese put four in the back of the net while Johnson added two.

Junior, Attack Ashley Valentine was able to keep the Bobcats in the game with both of her goals on free position shots.

Mount St. Mary’s came out of the break strong with a goal in the first 33 seconds of the half. That would be the only goal for the Mount for about 15 minutes as Quinnipiac would go on a tear, scoring five unanswered goals to take a 11-8 lead. The three goal lead would not last long as Johnson would pick up her fourth goal of the game followed by a goal by senior, Midfielder Rebecca Douglass, who scored her first goal of the game cutting the lead to one. Quinnipiac would score the 12th and deciding goal when sophomore, Attack Katie Latonick put one in the back of the net.

Douglass added the final goal of the game, but it was all for naught because sophomore, Goalie Hannah Nelson was able to shut out the Mount for the last 2:52 of the game.

Five Bobcats had multiple point games led by Valentine’s hat trick and sophomore, Attack Kelly Bruneau added two goals and an assist. Junior, Midfielder and recently named NEC Player of the Year Tiffany Manzi added a couple of goals. Freshmen, Lauren Matuszczak had a goal an assist in the victory. Senior, attack Katy Delagi and Latonick each added two goals also.

Although Nelson started off slow giving up seven goals in the first 24:26 minutes of the game. After that the 2008 NEC Defensive Player of the Year and only gave up four goals in the last 37:34 of the game and gave her team a chance to comeback and win the game.

Junior, Midfielder Meghan Latonick said, “We had to dig from deep inside ourselves,” when speaking about her team’s comeback.

Head Coach Danie Caro, the 2008 NEC Head Coach of the Year, spoke about her team’s first ever playoff win saying, “It felt good, but it wasn’t the prettiest win.”

In the Bobcats previous five playoff appearances they had lost in the first round each time. This year the Bobcats are the one seed and broke their playoff losing streak, which included a loss to the Mount last year in the first round when the seeds were reversed.

The Bobcats will play the championship game against Sacred Heart, who defeated Monmouth 12-11 later on Friday. The game will take place at 12 p.m. on Sunday at the Turf Complex, and can be heard on the Bobcats Sports Network presented by WQAQ.