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.
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.
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 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.
Lafayette College Field Hockey 