We are now into the meat of the Patriot League Schedule. So far, with a loss to Boston University, we are 0-1 in the League. Lehigh is 0-2, Holy Cross is 1-1, Colgate is 0-2 , Bucknell is 1-0, American and Boston University are 2-0. With a seven team league, 3 losses is virtual elimination in the four team tournament to decide the league championship. So for the team,forget about past games, this is a must win game. A win keeps us in the hunt and probably eliminates Lehigh and that’s always a good thing
So we arrive at Lehigh’s field on Saturday and for 70 minutes we must tackle like demons, follow the ball, run like this a championship game, make every touch of the ball count and find ways to get to the circle and finish. And there is the fact;
Beating Lehigh is so much fun!!!! So bring your best game because Lehigh will bring theirs. Eleven o’clock on Saturday…bring it!! GO PARDS!!
Reasons why we need to beat Lehigh:
Their colors are brown and white..( who picks colors like that)
They stole the sword from Lafayette’s statue sixty years ago and it still ticks me off.
Their football fans are rude
They are only 18 miles from Lafayette and that offends me
They used to be called the engineers and now they are called the Mountain Hawks ( Is there even such an animal, I think its actually an eagle??)
Their campus can’t be seen from Rt 22 unlike our school which is majestically visible as you arrive in Easton
I don’t like their football team, basketball team or any other of their teams
Replies from all sorts of fans:
Because WE like to paint Your leopard Brown and White
Goleopards.com captures Ami Turner and the team celebration after her goal in the second period
The Albany Danes used only two substitutes as they depended on two first period goals and a third goal in the final period to prevail in a game with the Lafayette Leopards. Before a crowd of over 500 fans ( the largest of the season), the Leopards battled, hoping to outlast a skilled Dane attack and perhaps the best player in country Paula Heuser from Monchengladback, Germany. Heuser put on a clinic on the drag flick as she scored two goals, one in each period to lead the Danes in a three to one hard fought contest.
Meg Lillis shows strong skills during the first period
The Leopards had hoped to use their defense to stop the Dane offense for most of the game, to allow the deep bench of the Leopards to gain an advantage in the second period. It did work to an extent, as the Leopards were to use 6 players from their bench to get 4 of their five shots in the second half, only to be countered with five shots by Albany. The whole game saw Albany get a total 8 shots to the Leopards 5. The difference perhaps was the ability of Albany to get 8 corners to Lafayette being shut out with the officials not seeing a penalty inside the circle against Albany all game.
Ami Turner and Hannah Millen provide defense during the early minutes
Ami Turner was to provide some excitement for Leopard fans, with about seven minutes to go by diving for the ball late in the game in the middle of the circle. Seeing an Albany player out of position she was able to flick the ball over a Dane defender’s head and into the cage to close the deficit to two.
Lafayette’s center back was injured after receiving a blow to the head from a stick, after a shot. The official needed to stop play as Hannah Millen was helped off the field with no penalty called. Hannah was not to be held out for many minutes of her senior season and returned to the game about five minutes later. Despite the after game ice pack I have no doubt the plucky center back will be in the lineup on Monday against Drexel.
It has been a dreary three games as the Leopards have endured the toughest part of their schedule, but not their most important part. Lessons learned in the last week will no doubt be applied against a 1-5 Drexel squad and an all important league game against arch rival Lehigh next Saturday at Lehigh. Fans will be looking for some of that offensive cohesiveness that carried them to their 5 wins earlier. The season is now half over and a winning sprint I believe could be in offing.
The crowd was sprinkled with a fair number of fans from youth field hockey leagues from Forks Township, who put on a display of skills at halftime for an appreciative crowd.
I love team sports because of the lessons it teaches real time. The athlete expose themselves every game to the real world. Unlike being part of a classroom, a club, or even a musical ensemble your mistakes on the athletic field or lack of preparation are exposed for all to see. Certainly, the group in the aforementioned activities suffers as well, but the individual almost never has to face the scrutiny of the world. Good athletes, good coaches ( they are after all, part of the team), and good administrators, should reexamine a loss to see what can be done better. A good team member, realizes they are not doing it just for themselves, but to further team goals.
Amanda Magadan and Ellen Colbourne closely guard a UConn player
I always preferred to hire team athletes, all other things considered, because they understood the concept of examining your own efforts to make the whole better. I hate the excuse makers, and the people who accept a loss. I cringe when I hear a coach or a player say, ” Oh, they were just better, or the refs were bad” instead of saying we learned some things today and our experience will make us better.” How about, if we just had more money, we could have better sneakers, then we would have won. Excuses can be just that absurd. That is how you turn a loss into a defeat.
Aliza Furneaux powers her way through two Uconn defenders
Giving into weaknesses instead of working hard to strengthening some aspect of your game, and learning from a loss, will result in defeat. Administrators have to learn to articulate weaknesses in the infrastructure, coaches have to make sure they give their team an opportunity to prepare themselves, and mentor a good attitude, and individual athletes have to ask themselves, everyday, have I done enough today to make myself, AND MY TEAMMATES better! Is there a skill I must spend some time on, that will make me be a contributor? Do I play hard enough in practice to make the other athletes on the team better?
Meg Lillis, Amanda Magadan and Aliza Furneaux surround a UConn player in the second half
A season has many ups and downs and there are opportunities and traps, and the true athlete and team member must avoid being defeated and learn from losses.
The Leopards will play number five ranked Albany friday night, and then the following Monday will be traveling to Phialdelphia to meet Drexel. It will be the following Saturday they will resume the all important league schedule with nearby rival, Lehigh in a must win game!! Coach Stone has always told me she recruits athletes of character first. I believe this IS a team of character who will not be defeated!!! Go Pards!!
Amanda Magadan chases down a lose ball against Boston University
Lafayette could not find consistent control of the ball, while Boston could not score from the field in a game where penalties played a huge role in the scoring chances. Both teams battled for 28 1/2 minutes before the first goal was scored. It was on a penalty corner by Boston University which from my viewpoint, and others should have been disallowed. During a penalty corner after the ball is inserted. the ball must exit the circle first. Then a shot can be taken once it is reinserted by the stopper. From my angle it looked like the ball never exited the circle. A review of the play by the streaming video was not obvious because of the angle. So, the Leopards retired to the sidelines during the first half with a 1-0 deficit staring them in the face.
Rosie Shanks and Meg Lillis surround Ellie Landsman of Boston University
At 43:38 a penalty stroke was called by the official, because in her judgement the goalie took out the attacking player while not making a play on the ball. The judgement call resulted in a penalty stroke and Boston’s second goal of the game. The final goal for Boston came on a less controversial play, although again on a penalty corner, which seemed to ricochet off a Lafayette stick into the goal at 46:38.
Ami Turner closes in against Boston University
It was then after a timeout by coach Stone, the Leopards came to life, pressing, and moving the ball with more alacrity. They started to find open receivers and threatened several times. Finally at 57:56 into the game on a penalty corner of their own, Amanda Magadan got a feed from Rosie Shanks and Kirby Szalkowski at the top of the circle and blasted a beautiful shot to the goalie’s left lower corner.
Leopard fans were hopeful with 12 minutes left there would be a miracle finish to make it a good day. But despite several good attempts including another penalty corner, time expired and Lafayette could not get the satisfaction of closing the gap.
Kirby Szalkowski turns ball around against Boston University
The closing statistics were hardly conclusive with Lafayette having 7 shots to Boston’s 11, four corners to Boston’s 3 and 2 saves to Boston’s 3.
This is certain to be a game Lafayette would want to play again and they might, if they get to the Patriot League playoffs. Boston is a very solid team and Sofi Laurito is the real deal. I did see improvement from Lafayette. especially in the second half and no doubt by the end of the season they will be even better, but Boston is a team that is justifiably ranked in the top twenty and one that mistakes cannot be made against, or you will pay a price. This was the best team we have played this year, so far.
The Leopards now move on to the number one ranked team and defending national champion, UConn tomorrow at 2pm.
Freshman Theresa Delahanty gets into position to make a play
As our Leopards travel to Boston to prepare for the opening league game, the team has received a boost of confidence with a 15,000 dollar challenge. The challenge starts tomorrow and ends the day of the Field Hockey team’s game with Lehigh. Our donor will match dollar for dollar up to 15,000 dollars, all gifts during this period. We are appreciative of our team’s efforts on the field and now we can help them be successful. This will go to help pay for uniforms, coaches salaries, equipment, recruiting expenses, and other necessary items to make the Leopards competitive on the field.
Support the Effort
We raise 50,000 dollars a year and this effort will enable us to make over 60 percent of that goal by October. You may double the impact of your gift by sending to Joe Giamo- Executive Director of the Maroon Club, Alan P Kirby field house, Lafayette College, Easton,Pa. 18042. Make your gift out to Lafayette College Field Hockey and memo Challenge Grant. You may also go to the GoLeopards web site and visit the Maroon Club link and follow instruction for delivering a check or making your gift via credit card.
Tomorrow’s game will be streamed live, so send a message and gift. Go Pards!!!
Amy Tuner shows her form as she takes a shot. The Leopards are deep in talent.
The toughest part of the regular schedule is about to begin. Its the part that really means something in that each Patriot League game counts towards one, deciding who enters the League tournament, and two who will host that tournament. It is the only sure way to get into the national post season NCAA national championships. A win in the League tournament also earns the winner a ring and ticket to compete against the best in the nation.
Amanda Magadan is always a threat
Saturday the Leopards will be taking on a very skilled and well coached Boston University team. Lafayette has not beaten the Terriers since their entry into the league two years ago, as the Terriers hold a 2-0 margin. Every game has been a close, well contested contest, and I expect nothing less on Saturday. Lafayette has played one top 20 team, Liberty University and lost a 2-1 contest. Boston has played two top twenty teams, Maine and rival Boston College, and lost one and won one. Both teams have been good in overtime Lafayette winning two.
Hannah Millen, three time patriot league defender of the week breaks through the Longwood defense
Other stats are fairly close Lafayette has 20 goals to Boston’s 17, narrowly favoring Lafayette. Opponents have scored 9 against Lafayette and 11 against Boston. Lafayette’s shot percentage is .307 while Boston is .193. Boston’s SOG is 88 and Lafayette is 66. BU has 41 penalty corners and scored on 7, Lafayette has 27 penalty corners and has scored on five. Lafayette save percentage is 73 pct and BU is .67.
Ellen Colbourne has speed to spare.
This game could well be a defensive battle. If Lafayette can break through and aggressively get to the Boston goalkeeper, advantage Lafayette. If Boston’s high press prevents that, advantage Boston. Lafayette will have to make quick decisions in the backfield and stop Boston getting off shots. Boston needs to do much the same with Lafayette’s advantage and success in scoring once the shot is taken.
The offensive corner battery can be deadly for opposing teams!
I am sorry to say for fans, this will not be a runaway for either team but a tense battle until the final whistle. With the stakes high and skill of both teams, a one goal game is not beyond the realm of possibilities. The Leopards have something to prove against the ranked Terriers. So for them it is as much about respect as it is about establishing a winning record within the league. They are the visitors but Lafayette fans travel well.
It gets no easier as the Leopards on Sunday, will take on the UConn huskies, last year’s national champion and next friday will host the national runner up. Yes, this could be a defining week for Leopards.
Magadan eyes the goal as she steals the ball headed for the first goal of the game
At times it is just being on the field, but it was the Lafayette captains, two time Patriot League defensive player of the week. Hannah Millen and Amanda Magadan, one of the leading scorers in the League and a member of the US under 21 team who showed the way as each scored a goal in each period against Quinnipiac, enabling the Leopards to end the week at 5-1. It wasn’t without some last second dramatics as the Bobcats were award three straight short corners after time had expired. But it was the defensive battery that was to come up big and turn away the final shot ending the game.
It was Magadan who opened the scoring with a crowd pleasing dash to the goal, stealing the ball outside the circle, avoiding two defenders and then “juking” the goalie in a final move, before placing it in the back of the cage unassisted thirteen minutes into the game. It was then that Millen and company in the back line stiffened and denied Quinnipiac the circle while they managed to get only two shots the whole first half, only one of which required a save by goalie Katelyn Arnold. Lafayette did suffer two green cards and played 4 minutes of the half down a player.
MIllen sends the ball upfield turning back a Bobcat attack
Lafayette looked as though it might break the game open in the second half as Millen scored the second goal off a corner sending a rocket past the Quinnipiac goalie using assists by Ami Turner and Ellen Coubourne one minute and fourteen seconds into the second period. Lafayette threatened several times to make it three but got turned away. Take away the final 3 corners with no time left by Quinnipiac, they managed only three corners during the game. Lafayette had 7 corners, 5 in the second half alone.
Ami Tuner shows her form as she takes a shot
Lafayette used its bench, substituting in every able bodied field player available demonstrating how deep they are this season. Each coach took a time out, Quinnipiac to get organized as Lafayette looked like it might take complete control, and Lafayette did it for the same reason as Quinnipiac eventually did score a nifty goal by Michelle Fedrico on a backhanded shot assisted by Meghan McCulloch. In addition, Rosie Shanks was to get a yellow card with 6:47 to go in the game. but Lafayette did manage to earn a corner with 3:15 left on the clock. Amanda Magadan was to get the last Lafayette shot which was saved by the Quinnipiac goalie with 30 seconds to go.
It never over until its over, as Quinnipiac earned their corner which resulted in three last chances to tie the score with time having expired. The defense came together and finally sealed the victory batting the ball out of the circle ending the game.
The offensive corner battery gets ready right before Millen’s second period goal
The Leopards next take on the Boston University Terriers in Boston next Saturday at noon. This will open the Patriot League Championship season which will decide the final four participants in the League tournament and the home field advantage.
Millen led defense was key element in victory over Monmouth
If you like defense, friday night’s contest between the MAAC defending champion and NCAA tournament participant, Monmouth University Hawks was 70 minutes of fan ecstasy. Both defenses were excellent as Monmouth employed a series of eclectic defensive schemes to thwart the Lafayette transition game while the Lafayette back line showed their mettle turning back the Monmouth front line attack. Although Monmouth got off more shots and corners ( oddly Lafayette did not get a single corner the whole game) the Lafayette back line including goalie Katelyn Arnold turned away threat after threat. Ironically, the Leopards had their best chance two minutes into the second period on a penalty stroke which was blocked by the Monmouth goalie.
Katie Birle has a league leading lead in goals scored and gets her fifth of the seasons in overtime heroics
The game was full of fan tension for those 70 minutes which was played like an eleven v eleven overtime for the last 10 minutes knowing that one goal could be the difference. As overtime came. for most of us who know this team well. it was almost a relief believing that Lafayette’s front line with its speed, skill, and the space created by the 7 v 7 format would serve as an advantage the Leopards didn’t have in the first 70 minutes.
That advantage was to manifest itself with the Colbourne to Birle combination two minutes into the period.Ellen Colbourne received the ball at midfield dodged the first player and put her speed to work up the right sideline. Meanwhile Katie Birle deftly positioned herself between two Monmouth players knowing Colbourne would spot her.Ellen Colbourne wound up delivering to Birle who expertly redirected the ball between the legs of the Monmouth goalie. This was Katie Birle’s fifth goal of the season and none could have been more timely. Before last night, she was ranked 11th nationally in goals scored and is now the leading goal scorer in the Patriot League. Colbourne’s assists puts her among the leaders in the league in assists as well. The Leopards are now 11-1 against the Monmouth Hawks who played with great intensity and heart.
Rosie Shanks shows her defensive skills against Monmouth
The Hawks were to step up before the game as a defective CD of the national anthem was to disallow the usual pre game recording. One of the Hawks was to come forward and deliver a beautiful a cappella version on the spot. Well done. I wish I had recorded her name but kudos to her in any case.
This was goalie Katelyn Arnold’s second collegiate shutout of her career as she was perfect in the cage.
The Leopards continue their home stand against another MAAC rival, Qunnipiac as they will be looking for revenge from last year’s overtime victory by Lafayette. The Leopards are now undefeated at home having suffered their only loss last week against highly regarded Liberty University last week in Virginia . Tonight’s 1-0 victory was their second overtime win having beaten Longwood last week 4-3. It is also their third one goal victory this season.
Freshman Theresa Delahanty gets into position to make a play
Next week the Leopards will open the Patriot League schedule in Boston, against Boston University on saturday and will move on to play national champion UConn the following day before returning to Easton to meeting the national runner up Albany.
Addendum: I just received an email from one of my readers. The young lady who so skillfully sung the national anthem was number 7 Mallory Kusakavitch from Pittston,Pa and Holy Redemer HS. She is a sophomore defender. Obviously a young woman of many talents….well done!!
We are twenty percent into the 2015 season and the Leopards are starting to make a mark in the NCAA division one statistics. First they are 3-1. According to fieldhockeycorner.com and their mathematical calculation of rank, which includes opponents records and margin of victory as variables, the Leopards rank 22nd. The NCAA statistics are impressive, they rank 6th in goals and goals per game. They are 8th in average margin of victory, 11th in winning percentage,9th in defensive saves, and 12th in assists. Katie Birle is ranked 11 in goals and Ellen Coulbourne is 11th in assists. Katie and Amanda Madagan are 11th in points per game as of this writing.
Amanda Madagan looks for a teammate near the scoring circle
Yes, it is still early and these statistics probably are not reflective of a whole season. However, after this weekend’s games with Monmouth and Quinnipiac, the Leopards will be playing three straight games with highly ranked team, an important league match with Boston University @ Boston, University of Conn. @ UConn and Albany @ home. At that point the Leopards will have played more than 50% of their games with top 20 teams. After that, we will have a fair view of where the Leopards are nationally.
Aliza Furnaux moves past a Ball State defender
But it is really the league schedule that hold the key to getting into the national tournament. A win over the preseason favorite in Boston would be a big step forward. These are must win games to get the Leopards into the League tournament and have a home field advantage. The other games may or may not help to get a second Patriot League team into the tourney. First things first, and of concern for the team and their coaches is Monmouth’s return to Rappolt Field for a game tomorrow. The Leopards holds a 10-1 all time winning record with Monmouth.
Katie Birle has a league leading four goals scored
However, Monmouth is an improving program and I do not expect for them to be an easy game. Last night, they lost to Rutgers after taking an early lead. Rutgers tied it before the end of the half and finally pulled ahead in the second half ending the game with a 4-2 win. Monmouth also lost to Bucknell 3-1 in their first game after an early lead. A good early start against this aggressive attacking team would bode well for the Leopards.
We are getting to the belly of the season and with good results it could go a long way for the Maroon and White to set up a sprint to reaching their goals. Go Pards!!
It was a fine day for field hockey,sunny and warm with all the evidence of thunder storms long passed. It was a battle of undefeated teams in a beautiful setting. The facilities are excellent and both teams were able to display their talents to the delight of their respective fans. Liberty took the early lead with a disputed goal from the right side of the Lafayette goalie. Despite the entreaties of the Lafayette captains and coach, who believed that the ball was out of bounds before the shot, the goal stood. Lafayette came back with the fourth goal of the season from Katie Birle delivering during a corner off a rebounded shot from Hannah Millen.
Kristen Taylor passes the ball avoiding a Liberty defender
Earlier Amanda Magadan looked like she would deliver the tying goal but it was legitimately ruled too high not hitting the backboard, and there was no deflection. It was later that most Lafayette fans thought a second goal by Liberty suffered the same fate, since there was no sound on the backboard, but it was not to be and was instead the go ahead goal. Lafayette had a last chance with a fast break off an errant Liberty pass. The Liberty goalie came out the cage to defend against Birle one on one. Birle was not to get the shot or a pass off and the threat to Liberty had ended.
The Lafayette defense played well as did Libery, but Lafayette had fewer chances in the offensive end to use their offensive firepower to test the Liberty Flame’s close in defense.
Ellen Coulburne shows her speed to a Libery defender
Liberty is a fine team, perhaps even a top twenty team, and they deserve the success they had, but in this case there was more to the score than the play on the field. There are regional and league difference in officiating no doubt, as well as individual tendencies, and Liberty legitimately took advantage of that. For example, in my interpretation of the rules and of others, when an offensive player purposely backs into a defensive player causing contact, that is an offensive foul. This is, of course, much like a basketball player backing into the basket, allowed in basketball, not allowed in field hockey. By my count this occurred and was called at least four time outside the shooting circle, three times resulting in a short corner with the official calling a deliberate foul against Lafayette.
Lafayette faithful do travel well!!
The first Liberty goal occurred after the ball clearly went out of bounds, in the view of most people, neither of the officials were in a good position. The second Liberty goal occurred on a first shot and never hit the backboard, the same which occurred earlier in the game against Lafayette’s Amanda Magadan. I hope I can review to see if what I saw was correct but there was no video archived of the game to date. With the advent of video at most Division one Field Hockey games I would hope that there could be video replay available. It is allowed under NCAA rules and occurs at all playoff games and Olympic and World Cup matches. It would eventually even out the regional differences in officiating and make the game fairer, What do you think??
I want it noted this is my opinion alone and does not necessarily reflect any coach’s or player’s opinion. We left shortly after the game for the six hour trip home and did not have a chance to discuss it with players or coach. If anyone at the game or any other reader would like to discuss it, or has contrary opinion, there is a comment option at the bottom the page.
In any case the Leopards will be back in the friendly confines of their home field this friday at 7pm to meet Monmouth.
My amendment:
I got an email from one of our alumni parents. He not only showed me where to see the archived game but had a freeze frame of the first Liberty goal. From that vantage point the ball looked on the line, therefore in play. Looked at it myself and at the halftime highlights the ball looked in bounds. So a good goal!! I stand by my instant replay desire though.
Lafayette College Field Hockey 