NOVEMBER 13, 2024 • VOLUME 95 • ISSUE 11
The official student newspaper of Quinnipiac University since 1929
Quinnipiac, students host election watch party
Fairfield defeats women’s soccer 1-0 in MAAC Finals
By CARLEIGH BECK Associate News Editor
TRIPP MENHALL/CHRONICLE
By AMANDA DRONZEK Sports Editor
FAIRFIELD — The MAAC Championship between Fairfield and Quinnipiac was always going to be a one-goal game, it was just a matter of who would score first. Sunday afternoon, it was the Stags, who stripped the back-to-back conference champions of their crown in a 1-0 victory. For the first time in three seasons, Quinnipiac met its end in the MAAC finals. “I know we were voted preseason all along, but I think that was just more of a respect for what they did last year,” head coach Dave Clarke said. “I don’t for one minute believe a lot of teams thought we were going to be here. I think they were written off.” He’s right — Quinnipiac was the preseason favorite. And it did meet about 99% of those expectations by making the finals apart from suffering its first conference losses since 2021 (Mount St. Mary’s Oct. 19 and Fairfield Oct. 30). Final score aside, there wasn’t much Quinnipiac did poorly. The lone goal came off a free kick called right outside the corners of the penalty kill area on junior mid-
fielder Molly Andrews for tripping. The initial line-drive boot from junior defender Meghan Carragher wasn’t the problem — it was the rebound. Graduate student goaltender Sofia Lospinoso lunged and deflected the ball for MAAC Championship Most Outstanding Player and junior forward Maddy Theriault to convert. But as Clarke said, 11 other teams in the conference would have killed to play one more game, win or lose. “Other teams would be like, ‘Yeah, we’d love a bad year like that,’” he said. “‘We’d love a down year like that. We’d love a disappointing year like that. Our disappointment is second in the league and then runner up in the championship.” Because of that success, women’s soccer has set a precedent for other Quinnipiac teams to follow in training style and game approach. “They’re the role models,” Clarke said. It’s no easy feat to run a championship season back for a second time, three would be asking for a near impossible task. The Bobcats have been impressive nonetheless, reaching the MAAC Championship four out of the last five years with much of that
TRIPP MENHALL/CHRONICLE
Head coach Dave Clarke speaks to his team after Sunday’s game.
credited to a core few who have been with the program just as long. “Last night at dinner, all of them sitting at a table together, blowing out candles,” Clarke said. “They become a team, a family as well. We don’t use that word lightly.” Key players such as graduate students forward Courtney Chochol — Quinnipiac’s leading scorer — and Lospinoso — whose 11 shutouts put her top 10 in the country for clean sheets — are rare to come by. But so are players like midfielder Klara Bengsston — who had an eye-catching rookie debut in 15 games — alongside an experienced group of rising upperclassmen. No doubt, these veterans will take the mantle in stride. In short, the Bobcats’ future is as bright as their present. The next step? “Keep the process,” Clarke said. “What we’ve done the last three years is go to work right away. Don’t take time off.” If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And if Quinnipiac is as dedicated as it has been the last few seasons, it’ll be a top MAAC contender come next fall.
TRIPP MENHALL/CHRONICLE
Graduate student goaltender Sophia Lospinoso averages a .778 save percentage.
Quinnipiac Political Science Association and the Office of Community Engagement held an election watch party for students from 8-11 p.m. Nov. 5 in the Piazza on the Mount Carmel Campus. QPSA is a nonpartisan organization that aims to create a space for people across the political spectrum and to promote civil discourse. The hosting organizations provided attendees with American flags, stickers and food catered by Tonino’s Pizza. They switched between televising C-SPAN and PBS election coverage during the event. “A lot of people expressed that they wanted to be with their friends in an environment and watch it together,” said Julianna Mazzella, a sophomore political science major and QPSA president. “So we wanted to create that environment for people, and with the help of the office of community engagement, we were able to do that.” Students had the chance to take blank maps and fill them out as states were called for candidates Vice President Kamala Harris or President-Elect President Donald Trump. They could also fill out their prediction at the beginning of the night with the map. All eyes were on the seven key swing states — Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania. “I voted for Harris and mostly identify with the Democratic Party,” said Zach Borden, a sophomore supply chain management major from Pennsylvania. “(Pennsylvania) is very decisive. In Pennsylvania, it’s extremely split, and my values are more aligned with her values rather than the former president’s.” Students across the political spectrum attended the event. Nyla Lavoie, a firstyear radiologic sciences major from Massachusetts, voted for Trump. “I think it’s important that when people are voting, to not let anyone persuade you. Do what you think is right in your heart and what you need.” At the watch party, students also spoke about their fears of the outcome of this election. “I mean, what happened in the last election on Jan. 6, I’m just hoping that there’s See ELECTION Page 3
TYLER MIGNAULT/CHRONICLE
Students who attend the election watch party receive items like American flags.