By Nick Sczerbinksi, QBSN Staff Writer
This week’s QBSN Athlete of the Week honors are awarded to Sophomore Amanda Danziger (Smithtown, NY) of the Quinnipiac Field Hockey team.
Over the course of this young season, the sophomore spitfire has triggered many offensive chances with electrifying runs down the outside lanes of the field and this week contributed one of the most exciting goals in Bobcats history.
With about 15 seconds left in a tie game, Harvard was pressuring in the Quinnipiac end, Maria Malonoski forced a turnover and fired the ball down the field on what looked like a simple clearance ball to send the game to overtime. However, unbeknownst to seemingly everyone in attendance and on the field, Danziger was standing alone behind the last Harvard defender. She settled the ball spun and fired it past Harvard goalkeeper Cynthia Tassopoulos for the game-winning goal.
“I was placed as a high forward in the last two minutes in hopes that a ball could get through like that,” said Danziger, “Maria Malonoski made an amazing pass, it go through two defenders and I received it in the circle and knew that there were ten seconds left and I just received it and took a shot. I looked up, it went in, looked up at the scoreboard, there were 5 seconds left and I was jumping for joy.”
Head coach Becca Main Kohli praised Danziger after the game, not only for her goal, but for a great all-around effort in the midfield.
“She has really stepped up for us and carried a lot of the play in the midfield,” said Kohli, “Amanda had a fantastic game, so it wasn’t luck that she was able to put that ball away. I really thought she did a great job, she played midfield the whole game for us and the last five minutes we moved her to the line, where she used to play and she more than did her job.”
The goal was Danziger’s first on the year to go along with two assists for a total of four points.
Performances like this from Danziger are going to play a major role in the Bobcats’ run towards the NEC Championship.
Danziger needs to maintain the play. There are several players out there hungry for a championship.
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