QBSN Athlete of the Week

QBSN Athlete of the Week: Tim Quigley

By Mike Morgese, QBSN Staff Writer

This week’s QBSN  Athlete of the Week was awarded to  junior Tim Quigley (Ridgefield,Conn.) of the men’s soccer team. Quigley scored two goals in Friday’s contest at the number one team in the NEC Central Connecticut. This was Quigley’s first goal since September 12, 2009 when he scored against NJIT. Quigley has two goals to go along with two assists on the season putting him at fourth on the team with six points.

Central hadn’t clinched anything yet, so it was giving Quinnipiac everything it had. The Bobcats had their opportunity to prove they could hang with anyone in the NEC.  Quinnipiac defeating the number one team in the conference keeps them in contention still for a berth in the Northeast Conference Tournament.

“We knew they were top in the conference. Both teams needed the three points. As the season goes on those three points get bigger and bigger because the top four seeds in the conference start forming,” said Quigley. 

Quigley’s first goal came unassisted in the 41^st minute. With time dwindling down in the first half, Quigley took a snipe 20 yards out from the top left of the box that sailed over Central Connecticut’s goalie.  

“I knew I was taking a shot and I was trying to put it on goal. It was tough from that angle because I did try to put it on net but with that angle you never know what will happen,” Quigley said. 

Quigley took a great risk, and it paid off with the Bobcats heading into the locker room up 1-0. This early motivation for the Bobcats, however, was not a reason to give less effort coming out to start the second half.  

“Just because we scored that goal didn’t mean we would sit back,” he said.  “The outlook didn’t change. Central played well that first half so we definitely couldn’t sit back.” 

In the 67^th minute lightning struck again for the Bobcats as Quigley, the former Super 20 Nationals All Tournament Team player, took the rebound off the post from senior Matthew Rothbart (Chesire, Conn.). Quigley dribbled around the oncoming goalie in the box and placed in the back of the net.

“I saw Rothbart go for the goal, and there was no one in the box so I just ran in the box behind him,” Quigley said.  “There were two pretty big Central defenders, and I was not going to try to win it in the air. I took one touch, saw the oncoming goalie, and just put it past him. That goal was completely set up by Rothbart so he deserves a lot of credit.”

Central would go on to score a meaningless goal in the 84^th minute, but it was clear how much Quigley and the Bobcats dominated. 

Quinnipiac plays two more games on the season. With a game on Friday, the Bobcats head to Sacred Heart and then close out the season at home on Sunday against St. Francis(N.Y.). The Bobcats need these two wins, and if all goes right, will be in the NEC Tournament after a one year absence. 

“I consider these playoff games already. It’s win or go home.  With two games left, we have to win both which we are capable of doing,” Quigley said.  “We want to win both and control our destiny and not have to rely on other results to get us into the playoffs.”