Spring Will Drive Fall Success

As our seniors prepare for graduation and moving onto careers or graduate school, underclass teammates begin the process to reload for the fall. In many ways it can be a more intense process as players a shifted to unfamiliar positions and new connections on the field.

The Leopards are mid way through spring competitions. Two players are missing playing for their national under 21 teams in South America and their are the usual injuries that seem to crop up from time to time but that does not mean there are some interesting processes in the works.

Perhaps the most interesting change will be at goalkeeper as two underclassmen are vying for playing time. From what I have seen so far, that issue looks in good hands as both seem up to the job against very good teams having given up only 3 goals in 3 games.

The other issue that will interest fans is that 40 percent of the Patriot League coaches will turn over this fall, Colgate, Holy Cross, and Boston College. To date, Colgate has inexplicably not announced their new leader. The other two are in place as I write.

As to my impressions so far, I see no reason why Lafayette can not be in the hunt again for the title. It’s always interesting to see the schedule of out of conference games as an indication of the coach’s belief in the fall prospects. There is no stronger indication this year as early on they will be meeting national champion Northwestern in Chicago. In addition, American and Boston will be at home this year. As to support, it was great to see familiar faces of parents in the stands.

As to other transitions, I have termed out as the chair of USA Field Hockey Foundation which leaves me more time to travel and pay attention to the Leopards. It was an intense two years with establishing an MOU with the Association, writing new By Laws and Articles of Incorporation and placing 6 new BOT members. The chair is in good hands with Sara Kocomond at the helm guiding them to and through the 2028 LA Olympics,

Not The Outcome We Wanted

Stella Malinowski and Josephine van Wijk surround a Boston player

It was a game well anticipated….a chance for our Leopards to add another ring to the finger, but Boston had other ideas. It needed a record setting effort by Boston and they got it. Boston always brings a stout defense, and they delivered, but they also got a record hat trick from Caroline O’Brian, that the Leopards failed to halt when needed.

For a while it looked like the Leopards would pull it out…a goal by. Maddie Evans in the third tied things up, but answered by O’Brian 6 minutes later…then 9 minutes later a goal by Malinowski only to be trumped by O’Brian with only 2 1/2 minutes to go in the game. This was the first time a 4 seed won the tournament and the first time there was a hat trick that did it.

I delayed writing this blog because I wanted to reflect on this and the upcoming tournament. First of all the Leopards left it all on the field and all praise to a marvalous senior class who led us here. Mackenzie Switzer, Carolina Rubel, Ellie Barton, Josephine Van Wijk, Peyton Guinter, and Raffi Fragomeni, who thrilled us with their courage, skill and determination for four years. They earned their rings from last year, something a majority of teams in Patriot League cannot say.

To the team, you prevailed through training, injuries and other adversities, for that you have our admiration and thanks. We are proud to be your fans!!

Josephine Van Wijk unloads a shot against Bucknell

To our amazing freshman, sophomores and juniors, you will challenge again I am sure, using this game as motivation. The League is getting better and the challenges will certainly be there, but I know you are up to it. To our coaches, who will hit the recruiting trail to replace and strengthen an extraordinary squad, our good wishes.

For the moment to Boston, congratulations on overcoming a difficult season. Best of luck and carry the League Flag with pride!! Boston will move onto Fairfield for the play in game, and I suspect after that. Princeton.

The success of the Ivy League this year has come as a shock to the power schools. Harvard, Princeton, and Yale will continue playing, pushing out teams like Maryland and Michigan.

A black mark to the Patriot League for asking the Lafayette team to leave the pitch after the game. The optics made it seem like they were bad sports. Several American players in the stands corrected the impression by noting the League had demanded the loser leave the field….terrible optics!!!

The success of the Ivies shows that excellence is possible, even at the Patriot League level with all its demands!!

Lafayette Punches Ticket To Championship Game

Josephine Van Wijk unloads a shot against Bucknell

In an action packed four quarters of field hockey, Lafayette College defended their title like the Champions they are. It was a match that has become a standard when these two teams, Lafayette and Bucknell, meet. For the last 9 meetings these two team dueled to a one goal result with Lafayette getting the advantage.

The first half ended 0-0 with Lafayette turning away five Bucknell penalty corners, with Katie Gibb meeting Kira Laclercq’s near the top of circle shots. Laclercq took every penalty corner opportunity but could not solve the Leopard penalty corner defense.

Katie Gibb and Lea Good moves against Bucknell

The game was played at consistent high intensity. Action moved from end line to end line testing the boundaries of fitness and skill. As Bucknell seemed to turn the action their way Lafayette defenders were there to intercept or tackle a Bucknell player recapturing the ball.

Lafayette used their strong bench, eventually testing the Bucknell depth. Eighteen Leopards made it into the game which Bucknell managed to sub in only three players from their reserves.

The relentless pressure eventually gave way to a two goal second half that was to break the tie with two goals at 33.53 and 42:26. Stella Malinowski drew first blood with a scrambling unassisted goal. While a scrum developed and multiple player were on the turf the Lafayette forward found the handle to deliver the first goal of the game.

The second goal was delivered nearly ten minutes later by the ubiquitous Katie Gibb in much the same matter. The Leopards used the two goal lead to control the fourth quarter until the Bisons decided to pull their Goalkeeper with nearly half the fourth quarter gone.

Katie Gibb scrambles to score!!

With two and one half minutes left the Leopards suffered a penalty stroke call, which Leclercq executed bringing the score to 2-1. Lafayette was to control the rest of the period to making their ticket reality, with a date to meet Boston in the final on Saturday.

Boston stunned American with 1-0 win in the first game. Despite being out cornered, the Boston defense was to stuff the strong APC’s, which is the foundation of American’s scoring.

The games were played with recently installed video review. By my count it was used at least 8 times between the officials, and calls by the teams during both matches. That leaves Lehigh the only team without review at their site.

Lafayette and Boston remain in DC to prepare for Saturday’s 1 pm meeting!!

Leopards Finish Regular Season With 6-4 Win Over Delaware

Lauren Kurek Lines Up Shot That Opens Scoring

In a game that seemed to cram a season’s worth of action in four quarters, the Leopards showed their character and spirit by turning away a game Delaware team to end up on top 6-4.

Half the scoring came from a three goal hat trick by Lena Thedrian. It was the second time this season that Lena was to get three goals in a single game. In this game it involved an effort that was to turn away a strong effort by Delaware.

The game had everything to offer. I can’t remember the last time there were three official’s reviews, along with several other reviews at crucial times during the action. The game was played on a windy cold afternoon, that rivaled any game played at Metzgar, the Leopards home turf. Adding to the action was a Delaware turf that was very fast that promoted offensive fire works.

First year player Lauren Kurek opened the explosion of scoring by taking a feed from Ellie Barton 13 minutes into the first quarter. In a skilled one on one move, she found her opening, delivering a strike using her back hand giving the Leopards a one goal lead.

Delaware answered seven minutes later with a goal of their own knotting the score at 1-1. Delaware seemed to take control by adding a second goal at 25:02, as the Leopards tried to find the answer to the Blue Hens resurgence. Lafayette retired at half time trying to figure things out on the short end of a 2-1 score in Delaware’s favor.

Four minutes into the second half captain Josephine Van Wijk, using an assist by Lea Good and Katie Gibb during a penalty corner tied the score again. It was Lena Thedrian who scored the first of her three goals, putting Lafayette ahead 3-2 using a drag flick during another penalty corner.

It wasn’t much more than a minute later that Delaware was gifted a penalty stroke, allowing them to tie the game and shift momentum in their favor. They followed with a score 5 minutes later putting them up for the last time 4-3.

It was then that the Leopards and Thedrian took charge with a surge with goals at 48:00 and 54:21 giving Lafayette a one goal lead with assists from Olivia Krey, Katie Gibb and Lea Good. Delaware then pulled their goalkeeper in a last attempt to rescue the game, but it was Stella Malinowski who delivered the “coup de grace” with a final goal a 57:07.

Raffi Fragomeni had 7 saves during the contest as Lafayette faced 17 shots from Delaware, while delivering 15 of their own scoring the 6 goals. It was aided by 12 penalty corners to Delaware’s 8 including the stroke.

The Leopards will move on to the post season with a meeting at American University with Bucknell on Thursday at two o’clock. The last encounter was a 2-1 overtime win against the Bison. American will meet Boston University at 11.

Unfortunately, the Patriot League tournament will be played without the customary video review since American is without the technology.

Leopards Finish League Regular Season With 1-0 Win Against Boston University

Feline Reuskin closes in on Boston player
Katie Gibb executes DPC

In a game that Boston had hoped to advance their bid for the Patriot League Tournament, Katie Gibb scored Lafayette’s winning goal with six minutes and forty six seconds into the third quarter. It was Gibb’s third goal of the season and second game winning goal in a row.

It was a contest dominated by defense, but had all the intensity of post season skills. Boston never gave up and even had 4 shots in the third quarter but never found the back of the cage. Although Lafayette did not have a shot in the fourth quarter they did turn away multiple attacks by the Terriers. With minutes left the Terriers did pull their goal keeper and the Lafayette defense stood tall and turned them away several times.

Although partly cloudy throughout the game the atmosphere turned chilly as the sun sank in the western sky. It did not deter the play on the field as Lafayette used 17 players in the game and Boston tried inserting fresh legs on their side with 20 players.The field for the Tournament did clarify as Bucknell emerged as the third qualifier and the likely opponent for Lafayette. Boston could still emerge as the fourth qualifier and the likely opponent for American, the host.

There were three video reviews during the game highlighting the deficit of video review for the Patriot League championship games because American does not have it. Along with Lehigh they remain the only sites without video review.

Lafayette Gets Come From Behind Victory 3-2

Katie Gibb scores winning goal with one minute left in the game

With several players nursing injuries the depth of Lafayette carried the day in a 3-2 thriller ending in a strike by Katie Gibb with less than one minute left in the game. Katie put in 60 minutes and was very involved in the offense all game. However, it was Junior Maddie Evens who got off the first shot of the game at 4:09. which was stopped by the Raider’s Claire van Kempen who had 8 saves during the day. The second shot came from Lea Good 2 1/2 minutes later again to be stopped by the Raider GK.

Lea Good put the Leopards in the lead in the first half

It was early in the second quarter when Lea was to find the back of the cage scoring a goal with the help of Linda Nova at 21:36. That goal was to stand up through the first half with the Leopards in the lead 1-0. with a 7-0 lead in shots and 1 penalty corner to none.

Two and one half minutes into the third quarter Colgate came alive as they got off three shots, two of which found the back of the net. The first came as it deflected off the glove of Fragomeni, the Lafayette goal keeper. Three minutes later the Crusader attack struck again to make it 2-1 on a fast break and the Leopards found themselves behind for the first time in the game.

The Leopards were to have success challenging Colgate one on one. It was one such drive up the middle of the field by Josephine van Wijk that set up the Leopards for a scrambling goal to tie the game. With 40 seconds left in the third quarter van Wijk charged towards the goal with Lena Thedrian and Sophomore Laila Pasic putting themselves in position. Thedrian got hold of the ball as Colgate tried to organize eventually passing to Pasic who tipped it in for the tying score.

The intensity increased throughout the final quarter as both teams had opportunities. Colgate and Lafayette had 2 penalty corners. With one minute and three seconds left and facing overtime Lafayette earned their last penalty corner of the game. Again, with a scramble in front of the cage Rosalie van Gool found Katie Gibb who delivered the winning goal with 50 seconds left on the the clock.

Van Wijk used her considerable skills to wind down the clock and seal the 3-2 win.

By virtue of the win the Leopards have now secured a place in the Championship tournament. Ironically, halfway through the game Lehigh lost to Holy Cross securing a spot even before Gibb’s final goal.

So there is still a mathematical chance for either Holy Cross, Boston University, Bucknell and Lehigh to qualify. Lafayette will play Boston next Friday in their final regular season game on Friday in Boston.

American took a large step in securing home field by beating Bucknell. Lafayette would need American to lose its final two league games for Lafayette to host. It is a shame should American host the championship it will be played without video review. In the American v. Bucknell game there several times that video review would have been helpful. It’s time for the League to mandate video review for championship matches. American is NOT qualified to host an NCAA Tournament game without it, as is Lehigh!!

Thedrian’s Hat Trick Pulls Leopards To 6-2 Victory Over Holy Cross

Lena Thedrian heroics leads Leopards

In the development of a team “personality,” at times it takes a single person to lead. Last night it was Lena Thedrian who stepped up with three goals in less the two minutes during a crucial third quarter. Until then Holy Cross was displaying heroics of their own in the person of their goalkeeper Mia McCloskey who had 9 saves in the first period. None was bigger than a stop of a penalty stroke attempt by Stella Malinowski.

Despite the Leopards dominance in shots 14-3 in the first half alone, it was the Crusaders who were to be in the lead 1-0 by the half time break. But it was Thedrian who was to break the Crusaders’s lead early in the third quarter. She could be seen all over the field making play after play but it was the “defender’s” drag flick that would propel the turnaround.

Before the crowd of 316 she was to step into an assist by Lea Good to even the score at 1-1. One minute later on a penalty corner Thedrian again delivered the go ahead goal at 38:34 with assist from Malinowski and Katie Gibb. If that wasn’t enough seconds later on another corner Thedrian delivered using the same combination making the score 3-1.

As it turned out those three scores would be needed as the Crusaders battled coming within one at 42:38 making the score 3-2. That score was to remain until the fourth quarter when the Leopards took charge with 3 addition goals made by Lea Good, Mia Freeman and a spectacular shot by Josephine van Wijk at 58:04.

In all, the Leopards out cornered the Crusader 10-3, out shot them 28-8 forcing the Crusader Gk to make 13 saves. The great thing about competitive sports it allows us to witness leadership in the making and Thedrian’s display was all that. She was described by the television play by play commentator as unsung…..no longer!!

Addendum

This gives the Leopards 3 wins in the conference and it has been the practice that 4 wins brings a spot in the conference playoffs. It looks like that will hold this year. Hosting will be very long shot. I still believe the League has a responsibility to mandate that video review be part of the conference tournament. Lehigh and American remain the only Patriot League schools without it. They could not host an NCAA tournament without it.

American Puts Lafayette On Back Foot In 3-1 Loss

If you had told me that Lafayette would have 10 shots to American’s 6, 8 corners to American’s 4 I would not have been right in assuming that Lafayette would end up on the winning end of the final score. It was a matter of timing, as a fourth quarter effort came too late to be of any help.

American University is always a tough place to be the visitor ( for fans as well as competitors). The Eagles asserted themselves right from the beginning. In fact the Leopards did not get their first shot until the third period! American made use of 2 penalty corners in the second period to start their scoring. There were a lot of close calls in first three quarters that went to the benefit of the home team which helped momentum as well. In the last quarter the far side official placed himself closer to action which seemed to help in balancing out the. penalties.

American’s Augustino Roffo showed her skill all game long and was an ever present threat. The first goal of the game came on that close call corner and a second try. Leopard offense which had proved to be effective all season long, could not get in gear.

The Eagles got their third goal before the Leopards got started but until that third quarter the field seemed tilted in American’s favor. That third goal provided added insurance in any tie breaker down the road for home field in tie beaker scenarios.

Lena Thedrian was again all over the field and was rewarded with the late goal during a Leopard corner using her drag flick to get it to the net.

One more thought

American is now in the minority by not providing video referral. It is time for the League to follow the NCAA hosting rules by insisting a championship tournament cannot be played at a site without video referral. It is time!! Excuses are hollow! At this point it’s the equivalent of a basketball team using peach baskets instead of modern metal rims and nets. All over division one it is in use…come on Eagles!!

Lafayette Celebrates Senior Day With 5-0 Triumph Over Dartmouth

DPC unit locates the ball

A second half surge sealed the deal on a 5-0 dominating win for Leopards over visiting Dartmouth on a beautiful day for senior celebration. The first half saw the score knotted up 0-0 maybe just to give the fans a little tension. But we all should have known better. After introducing the seniors and their families, the game opened with Dartmouth providing a stout defense for Lafayette’s 9 shots and 3 penalty corners. They successfully jammed the circle and cut off any clear space for Lafayette to operate.

After the half time break, giving the team and the coaches time to come up with a solved strategy, the goals began to come. At 2 1/2 minutes into the second half, Junior Maddie Evans took a feed from senior Josephine van Wijk who had penetrated the defense and started the ball rolling with a nifty deflection into the cage.

Senior Van Wijk penetrates the circle

Lafayette did not have to wait long for the second goal, as less than two minutes later, freshman Rosalie van Gool was to get the first of two goals on the afternoon by freezing the keeper and delivering a solo strike to the back of the net. Her second goal was also unassisted 3 minutes later. that 3rd quarter was to see the Leopards collect 9 shots and 2 penalty corners.

The home team was not done as the fourth quarter was to see more goals from sophomore Mia Freeman from Downingtown with help from Junior Lea Good, and the final goal came from senior Josephine van Wijk with the assists from Junior Stella Malinowski and Junior Katie Gibb.

The stage is set for Senior Day festivities

After the final whistle fans, and the team retired to Kamine Field house to celebrate and honor our amazing seniors Makenzie Switzer, Catalina Rubel, Ellie Barton, Josephine van Wijk, Peyton Guinter, and Raffi Fragomeni. The Juniors roasted the Senior with inside barbs ( most of which I will ignore or don’t want to know).

Juniors entertain fans with a roast of senior teammates

The Leopards ended the day with an 7-3 record and a crucial game upcoming with American in DC on Friday. But that’s for another day…..

Leopards Land On Top Against Bucknell In Overtime Thriller 2-1

It’s a full house of 500 fans

In an evening of very high level and intense hockey, Katie Gibb, and Kiley Gallagher, along with Lena Thedrian, providing two crucial assists, the Leopards delivered another overtime thriller to 501 fans. Never to be counted out, Lafayette fought through 3 periods of pretty even hockey, to finally tie it up with 6 and 1/2 minutes left in the game. It was a penalty corner and a rocket delivered by Thedrian, that found Katie Gibb in front of the goal, who responded with a much needed tip in.

Until then, it was Bucknell’s Reese Czajkowski, with a Gianna Purorro assist on penalty corner of their own at 20:24, that provided Bucknell with the single digit lead. The game had all the feel of a championship effort, and the timing of the equalizer provided the faithful a chance to appreciate the heart of this team.

But tying the score would not be enough, as the game moved to overtime. Bucknell faced a two player shortage in the opening moments of overtime due to two late green cards. For most fans, it seemed that would have sealed the deal, but the Bison’s made it through and at 5 1/2 minutes the Leopards delivered the deciding blow with Kiley Gallagher finding a looping assist from the ever present Lena Thedrian ( who played 64 minutes) ending the game 2-1.

Excitement throughout the game was also provided by Josephine van Wijk, who was limited to 27 minutes nursing a practice injury, but managed to provide one on one penetration to the circle, dribbling through an aggressive defense featuring her strong stick skills.

Again, Lafayette provided a plethora of thrills by the whole team, demonstrating courage and fitness that has captured the appreciation of their many fans.

Having to fight back Lafayette won the tale of the statistics with shots 12-10 (7 coming in the forth and overtime periods) and they out cornered their opponents 4-3 ( Bucknell’s corners were all in the first half). Fragomeni had another solid performance in the cage with four big saves!!

The team will receive their championship rings from last year and be honored at the football game on Saturday. Sunday they will meet Dartmouth at home, in pursuit of their 7th win and travel next Friday to American!!