Catching Up With The Captains

Courtesy: quinnipiacbobcats.com

Brandon Goode, #2, Men's Soccer
Sophomore
Defender
Toronto, Ontario

1. How did you get into (sport you play)? 

       Started playing house league at 6 years old and kept going from there.

        

2. What brought you to QU? 

        Recruited for soccer, really liked the campus and team.

        

3. If you had ten words to describe your team, what words would you use? 

      Young, skilled, diverse, passionate, funny, close, family, fun, good looking.

4. What is your most embarrassing moment? 

      Maybe scoring an own goal in practice.

5. What is your team’s goal this season? 

      Win a conference championship.

        

6. What is your favorite sport other than the one that you play? 

       American football.

7. Ray and Mikes or Corner Deli? 

       Never been to Corner Deli, so Ray and Mikes.

8. What celebrity would play your part in a movie about your life? 

       Usher

9. Who is your role model and what have you learned from him or her? 

       My grandfather, to always be honest.

10. Better dancer, Chris Brown or Billy Mecca? 

       Billy Mecca.

Quick Fact: I'm Canadian

Favorite Movie: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Favorite Food: Chicken shwarma

Shuffle iPod, first five songs: 

1. Blur - Battery In Your Leg

2. Drake - November 18th

3. ASAP Rocky - Trilla

4. The Black Keys - Too Afraid To Love You

5. Wu-Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M.

Academic major: Biology

Plans after QU: Play soccer

Record win for Bobcat coach: Seeley gets 200th

Record win for Bobcat coach: Seeley gets 200^th

By Brian Farrell, QBSN Staff Writer

Courtesy: quinnipiacbobcats.com

Sometimes a win is not just a win. On Saturday evening, a non-conference game against Robert Morris may have seemed to be just another win for anyone outside the shadow of the Sleeping Giant.

The win marked the ninth of the season for the Bobcats and their third in a row. The win kept the Nutmeg Championship in Connecticut and more importantly, kept it in Hamden. It was the program’s 100^th win and for head coach Rick Seeley it was his 200^th career win.

Quinnipiac players chanted 'speech' to Seeley after the game, who replied with a sarcastic smile before giving his team what they were asking for.

“Well I had no idea,” Seeley said still smiling. “I guess these things are important at the end of your career, but what makes it great right now and you know that I am tough, and you know that I love this group, and I’m so glad I get to share it with you guys.”

After the game in true humble fashion, Seeley continued to try to downplay the importance of the record.

“It’s a number…but the only great thing about it is that I got to share it with this team,” he said.

This team is the first in which the entire roster contained Seeley recruits.

“Being a part of Coach's 200th win milestone is something none of us probably ever thought about happening,” senior captain Jordan Elkins said. “Our class started at Quinnipiac the same year Coach Seeley and his staff did so we naturally have a special connection, and I was proud to be able to help Coach achieve a goal like he is always helping us.”

Before coaching at Quinnipiac, Seeley compiled a 54-16-4 record with Manhattanville and a trip to the NCAA Division III finals in 2001-2002. That same season Manhattanville went undefeated in conference play.

At Clarkson University, his Golden Knights produced a 93-67-18 record. With Seeley at the helm, Clarkson reached the ECAC playoffs each year they were eligible. Year in and year out Seeley recruited some of the top players in North America, most notably in the Ontario region. His success on the college level with Clarkson and now Quinnipiac has earned him a high status in the Ontario region.

What is most impressive about the 200 wins are the teams Seeley won with. In his first seasons at Manhattanville and Clarkson, the teams were not yet active. His second season with those teams they were independent of any leagues. When he arrived at Quinnipiac, the Bobcats had won just five games the previous season and averaged a mere six wins in the previous seven seasons.

At each university he coached at it took just two seasons before his squads would win 20 plus games.

The Bobcats will look to add to their win total as they travel to Brown and Yale this weekend. This weekend’s games also hold more water as the Bobcats are back in the national ranking discussions after receiving a vote in yesterday’s poll.

What to Watch For: QU faces tough road test

What to Watch For: QU faces tough road test

By Matthias Gausz, QBSN Co-Director

The Bobcats men’s basketball team (2-2) heads to Bethlehem, Pa. to take on the Lehigh University Mountain Hawks (4-2) at Stabler Arena on Monday, Nov. 28 at 7:00 p.m.

Courtesy: quinnipiacbobcats.com

Quinnipiac is coming off a close loss last Tuesday at American University, as they fell 74-73. It came down to the last possession when a Dave Johnson (Jackson, N.J.) pass that was intended for Ike Azotam (Boston, Mass) was stolen away in the waning seconds. The game featured 32 fouls called on the Bobcats which turned into the Eagles going 34-48 from the charity stripe.

James Johnson (Queens, N.Y.) fouled out with less than eight seconds remaining in the game Tuesday night. He was the lone Bobcat that did so, but the foul trouble made Coach Tom Moore go to his bench early and often. Azotam led the way for QU, as he had a career high 20 points to go along with 14 rebounds for his fourth consecutive double-double. He has burst out of the gate to start his sophomore campaign. Last year he only averaged five points and five rebounds in his time off the bench. Azotam has hit the boards at a record pace and currently sits first in the nation is rebound average at 14.3 per game.

The Bobcats did shoot 45.6 percent from the field Tuesday night, but the surplus of fouls led to their downfall.  Freshman guard Nate Gause (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) has been the key player off the bench as he has scored double figures in three of his first four games. 

Courtesy: lehighsports.com

Lehigh is a team that has already been on America’s radar as they had a double digit lead at St. John’s in the opening week. They ultimately lost the game 78-73. They have won their last four after dropping the first two to St. Johns’s and Iowa State. The Mountain Hawks are led by C.J. McCollum, a junior guard who is the highest returning scorer in the nation from last year. He is averaging 19 points, five rebounds, and three assists so far this year. McCollum is the go-to man and has been able to score at will and hit the boards with some bigger bodies. Junior forward Gabe Knutson is the inside presence for Lehigh and is averaging 13 points per game this year. Lehigh was picked to finish second in the Patriot League and made the tournament in 2010.   

Key for the Bobcats:

Quinnipiac must be able to stay out of foul trouble and limit McCollum. If they can stay with playing the eight or nine man rotation then they will play at the level they are capable of.  The Bobcats will also have success by giving James Johnson the touches he needs. Azotam needs to continue to play like he has so far and get Jamee Jackson (Newark, N.J.) back to where he has been in the past. The final necessity is to limit McCollum to no more than 15 points and make the rest of the team score.

Key for the Mountain Hawks:

Lehigh needs McCollum to play as well as usual, but another scorer needs to step up as much as McCollum. Holden Greiner and Knutson account for 80 percent of their points. If they can limit Quinnipiac’s ability to win the battle on the boards then they should do well, but that’s easier said than done. Their chemistry is great which has allowed them to excel so far this season.  

Last Meeting: The last time these two teams met was Dec. 7, 2010 at the Bank. Quinnipiac won 84-78. Justin Rutty had 27 points and 11 rebounds, and three other Bobcats were in double figures. McCollum was held to 15 points, and the Mountain Hawks were demolished on the boards 56-28. Quinnipiac leads the all-time series 3-1.

Catching Up With The Captains

Courtesy: quinnipiacbobcats.com

Martha Santandreu, Women's Cross Country and Track & Field
Senior
Hamburg, NY

1. How did you get into (sport you play)?

       All of my friends in 4^th grade school did track and the coach put me in the mile, the longest event for those meets. In 6^th grade I started cross country and have been running long distance in both sports ever since.

        

2. What brought you to QU?

       I came for the physical therapy program and I have always liked New England. I originally wasn’t planning on running in college because I didn’t think I could make it on the team. I didn’t even look the team up when deciding to go here.

        

3. If you had ten words to describe your team, what words would you use?

            -tough                           -smart

            -unified                         -happy

            -competitive                  -encouraging

            -dedicated                    -dependable

            -“one team, one dream”  -family

4. What is your most embarrassing moment?

       Freshman year my coach was telling us about a news story he heard on tv. They were testing how different drinks affected a person’s MRI. He said that the person drank a cup of orange juice, no change, a cup of milk, no change, but when he drank a glass of coca cola he…and this is where the story is. I thought my coach said he “blew up”. Since he was laughing after I spoke up frantically saying, “He blew up!” He laughed even harder and said, “No, he threw up”. You also have to know that my freshman year I didn’t talk very much on the team so for the few words that I said to be “He blew up!” and having the team and coach laugh at my comment, I was a little embarrassed.

5. What is your team’s goal this season?

      Cross country- to win conferences for the 7^th year in a row and place higher than all previous years at regionals

Track and Field- to earn as many points as possible at NECs and have great performances at New Englands

6. What is your favorite sport other than the one that you play?

      I love pretty much any sport in any season.

7. Ray and Mikes or Corner Deli?

      Corner deli

8. What celebrity would play your part in a movie about your life?

     Jennifer Aniston- just because she can play any role

9. Who is your role model and what have you learned from him or her?

     My role models have always been my parents and older siblings. I have learned how to keep calm in tough situations, look on the bright side of life, roll with the punches, be independent, have faith in God, the power of forgiveness, how to listen, and most importantly, how to love with all my heart.

10. Better dancer, Chris Brown or Billy Mecca?

     Billy Mecca (is there really any contest?)

Quick Fact: I love free food and events!

Favorite Movie: From Justin to Kelly (just because Kelly Clarkson is in it)

Favorite Food: I love bread, in any form

Shuffle iPod, first five songs: 

1. White Houses by Vanessa Carlton

2. Fight Like a Girl by Bombshell

3. How Far We’ve Come by Matchbox 20

4. Behind these Hazel Eyes by Kelly Clarkson
5. Bring ‘Em Out by T.I.

Academic major: Physical Therapy

Plans after QU: Practice physical therapy, run a marathon, have a family, and never forget what I will take away from Quinnipiac

Velaj makes international debut

Velaj makes international debut

By Mike Auletta, QBSN Staff Writer

Courtesy: quinnipiacbobcats.com

When the final whistle blew on Nov. 4, the Bobcats 2-0 home victory against Bryant wouldn’t just mark a highlight of a season that fell short of expectations with the team finishing 5-10-1 overall and missing the playoffs. It would also mark the end of a storied career by one of the most distinguished players in Quinnipiac women’s soccer history.

Senior Furtuna Velaj (Stamford, Conn.) ended her career with a total 94 points, tallying 39 goals and multiple Northeast Conference first-team honors.

“Coach Clarke is one of the best coaches I have ever had. He has helped me become more of a multi-dimensional player,” Velaj said. “I have transformed from a goal-scorer into a creator and a team player.”

Velaj’s arduous journey did not start at Quinnipiac. The 21 year-old of Albanian-descent emigrated from the country of Kosovo during the Kosovo conflict in 1999. Velaj left a lot behind, but there were two things she maintained: her family and the game of soccer.

And just like her preface, Velaj’s epilogue to a fabulous soccer career will not cease at Quinnipiac.

On Nov. 6, just two days after her final game with Quinnipiac, Velaj reported to Albania to play for the Albanian Women’s National Team. She was informed of the opportunity in the spring while studying abroad in London for the semester. While training with the Millwall Ladies Football Club in London (member of the FA Women’s Premier League) to prepare for her final season at Quinnipiac, Velaj was approached by one of the coaches who was impressed with her playing ability.

“One of the coaches at the camp was a coach for Team Albania, and he really liked the way that I played. I ended up missing camp because I was injured, but the coach stayed in contact with me,” she said. “A few months later, the head coach for Team Albania called me and invited me to play with the team.”

The women’s program for Team Albania, being fairly new, took a while to get situated. The team’s first International Friendly was supposed to take place in September and didn’t happen. October came with the same expectation, and again, there was no International Friendly. Finally, Albania was set to play their first International Friendly against neighboring Macedonia on Nov. 10.

Velaj departed the United States and arrived in Tirana, the capital of Albania, four days prior to the match. Once in Tirana, Velaj proceeded to the summer resort town of Pogradec, Albania, the site of training one hour away from the Macedonian venue that would host the International Friendly. The days leading up to the match consisted of the same schedule: wake up, breakfast, train, lunch, train some more, and finish with dinner. Although Velaj grew close to all of her teammates during this short time, she found it easier to relate to those who spoke English including her roommate Nora, a 19 year-old playing for a second league team in Sweden.

The close bond the team created in the short time they spent together paid off on Nov. 10. Team Albania defeated Team Macedonia 4-1 in their first International Friendly. In the 51st minute, with Team Albania up 1-0 and the game still in reach for Team Macedonia, Velaj found herself one-on-one with the Macedonian goalkeeper. With pressure mounting, Velaj did what she does best by blowing the ball past the keeper and putting Team Albania up by two. Although scoring in her first International Friendly was surreal, Velaj’s attention was corralled by something else.

Courtesy: Ari Jeta Krasniqi

“The kids watching the game were singing the Albanian songs that I grew up hearing and singing,” Velaj said. “It was an amazing experience.”

The two teams concluded the day with a dinner together where the coach for Team Macedonia insisted on a rematch in the near future, a rematch Team Albania gladly accepted. Team Albania is focused on setting up more International Friendly’s for the spring, including a match with Greece who is ranked 57th in the world by FIFA. Velaj looks forward to continuing her playing career with Team Albania.

“For me to have this opportunity, it gave me the motivation to continue playing soccer as well as great experience,” Velaj said.

Velaj returned to the United States on Nov. 12. She hopes to pursue a professional soccer career and is actively searching for opportunities. Ideally, she would love to play in the United States, host of the top women’s play in the world, but would go to Europe and play in countries including Germany, Sweden, and England where she can focus more on player development.

“Soccer is what I want to do, I love the game, and I want to continue as long as I can,” Velaj said.

Velaj is expected to graduate this May with a degree in political science and said if soccer doesn’t work out in the long run, she would like to pursue law school.

Furtuna Velaj’s unique and indispensable abilities as a player, teammate, and overall person will be missed at Quinnipiac, but will certainly be utilized as she continues her journey towards becoming a professional athlete.

What to Watch For: Bobcats travel to D.C.

What to Watch For: Bobcats travel to D.C.

By Matthias Gausz, QBSN Co-Director

The Quinnipiac men’s basketball team (2-1) heads to the nation’s capital to take on the American University Eagles (2-2) at the Bender Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 7:30 pm.

Quinnipiac is coming off of a huge 78-54 win over the weekend against Navy. The huge lead allowed Coach Tom Moore to use his bench extensively, getting everybody on the floor. Senior guard James Johnson (Queens, N.Y.) filled up the stat sheet with 18 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals in only 26 minutes of action.  Sophomore forward Ike Azotam (Boston, Mass.) had his third straight double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds in only 22 minutes on the court. The Bobcats were able to stifle the Navy offense holding them to only 18 points in the first half and 22 turnovers in the game.

QU has been able to shut down the top scorer of the opposing team as they shut down Jordan Sugars to only seven points on Saturday. The woes at the free-throw line continued as the Bobcats only made 40 percent of their chances (8-for-20). Quinnipiac won the battle on the boards again 46-27.  

American comes in to the matchup winning two in a row after dropping their first two.  They defeated Florida Atlantic and Columbia last week; their losses are to Richmond by 10 and Maryland-Eastern Shore by two in overtime. Jeff Jones is in his 12^th season at the helm for the Eagles, who have been to the big dance twice under his tutelage. They are led by senior guard/forward Charles Hinkle, a Vanderbilt transfer, who has scored over 20 points in all four games so far for the Eagles. Senior guard Troy Brewer, a Georgia transfer, has given American one of the best backcourts in the Patriot League. Brewer is averaging 13.5 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game in the first four for the Eagles. American is backcourt heavy, not having a great front line.

Key for the Bobcats:

For QU, the key is to control the inside and keep attacking the boards. If Azotam can keep up his average of 16 points and 14 boards, which is second in the nation, and get some help from junior forward Jamee Jackson (Newark, N.J.) they should be fine. Johnson will get his looks and must connect in order to stretch a lead for QU.  As junior guard Garvey Young (Washington, D.C.) returns home, he must slow down Hinkle.

Key for the Eagles:

For American, the key is to get the senior leadership out of Brewer and Hinkle and have them control the tempo and the ball. If they both are able to break into double digits, American will be able to keep up with the Bobcats. They also must try to hit the glass and grab some misses as they are negative five in rebound margin this season. If the Eagles can get another player to step up and score, Daniel Munoz or Blake Jolivette, then they can breakdown QU’s defense and give them fits with three prolific scorers.

Last Meeting: This is the first ever meeting between these schools.