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Alphabetical 2014 NCAA D1 Preview: Quinnipiac

The NCAA D1 season is now underway! During the first couple of weeks of lacrosse season we’ll be finishing up the Alphabetical 2014 NCAA D1 Previews! Like last year, we are going through all of the D1 men’s teams for 2014 (there are 67 this year!) and we are now moving on to the Quinnipiac Bobcats, located in Hamden, CT.

After going 3-11 in 2012 and 6-8 in 2013, Eric Fekete’s Bobcat team is looking to take the next step in 2014.  The Bobcats have moved from the Northeast Conference into the MAAC, and seem to have ramped up their OOC schedule a bit as well. Lots of games against Ivy teams (Harvard, Brown, and Yale) and match ups with Fairfield and Air Force highlight the Bobcats’ schedule.

This is a GREAT speech video. Watch it.

Michael Saql is back at attack for the Bobcats. Saql dropped 26 goals and added 25 assists to cement himself at their offensive leader as a sophomore. Pat Corcoran is a strong midfielder, and also a junior now, and he was another even scorer with 17 goals and 11 assists. The trend of even point distribution continues with Matt Diehl (14, 12), Dylan Webster (14, 8), Billy Oppenheimer (5, 8), Jake Emms (8, 3), and Tom Gilligan (5, 5). It speaks to team play and smaller, diverse players who can play team lacrosse. Strong players graduated in Kostaras, Wilbur, Binowski, and Messina, but there is talent to step in to the holes.

Webster did well on face offs last year, and could be helped more this year by Drew Walsh or Connor DeVane, who are now sophomores. Carmen French has good experience as an LSM and can score goals here and there. Gill Conners returns in goal for his senior year, and I liked his play in 2013. With a good defense in front of him, Conners can be a difference maker with his big frame and solid positional work.

Chris Kendall and Greg Pendergast got some starts and good time last year down low. JB Marston is a senior and started every game last year. Dylan Baumgardner, Chris McMahon, and Evan Weldon could see more time this year. I’d expect at least one of the four freshman poles on the roster to see good time as well.

Quinnipiac should see some success this year. They have moved to a new conference, play some solid programs out of conference, and have a good amount of returning talent, as well as a couple of playmakers. Going 7-7 in the regular season is a big ask for this team, but also a very attainable goal. Can Quinnipiac do even better?

For more NCAA D1 Lacrosse coverage, check out Alphabeticcal 2014 NCAA D1 Previews: Air ForceAlbanyArmyBellarmineBinghamtonBostonBrownBryantBucknellCanisius,
Colgate,  CornellDartmouthDelawareDetroitDrexelDukeFairfieldFurman,
GeorgetownHartfordHarvardHigh PointHobartHofstraHoly CrossJacksonvilleJohns_HopkinsLafayetteLehighLoyolaManhattanMaristMarquette,
MarylandMassachusettsMercerMichiganMonmouthNavyNorth Carolina,
Notre DameOhio StatePennPenn State, Princeton, and Providence.