By David F. Pendrys [Modest Image Gallery]

HAMDEN, CT- The Quinnipiac Bobcats came into their home opener with a win over Harvard, but another Massachusetts school, AIC, would gain the upper hand in this contest Saturday afternoon. The match opened with AIC threatening deep in the Quinnipiac zone, but they were unable to capitalize. 18 scoreless minutes passed before Natalie Kosko dashed in for a Try and 5 points, setting up a Maggie Myles straight on kick which she converted for two points.

It took 12 more minutes for AIC to get on the board with a Try, but they did not convert a diagonal kick. Not long afterward Kosko scored again, but Myles was unable to convert a diagonal kick attempt of her own. Myles also had the assist on both Kosko scoring runs. With almost no time left AIC drove down the field and fought their way across the line for a score. This time the kick was good from an angle and the teams went to halftime tied at 12.

When the second half resumed it was all AIC who proved to be very hard to contain as they drove. The Yellow Jackets picked up a Try early from Jessica Davis though didn’t convert the kick, before long they had scored yet again as, though didn’t get the ball through the uprights again. Nonetheless it was 22-12. Quinnipiac did have their chances pushing down towards the AIC zone including an effort where the scrum was inching towards the line, but they were stopped each time. American International kept up the pressure and scored yet again as Cassidy Neyers picked up the Try, and she converted the kick 29-12. Late in the game they dropped the dagger as a player went on a long untouched run the final Try again and the kick was good.

The Bobcats kept fighting but were unable to pick up any more points and the game ended 36-12. Neyers did the kicking for AIC, and Rosalind Pena, Megan Pinson, Muneera Patton had a Try in addition to Neyers and Davis. Not surprisingly it was a very rough game as both sides had to deal with injury stoppages of play, though QU had to deal with more than their counterparts.

Quinnipiac travels down to the University of Virginia next week.