Sarah Dalrymple was scheduled to start on July first as Head Coach Stone’s addition to the Leopards coaching staff. She comes to the Hill after serving a two year stint at Hofstra where she was responsible for team practice organization, player development , recruiting evaluation, equipment and team travel operations and other administrative responsibilities. But it was her coaching skills that were put in operation early on as she worked Stone’s Total Hockey Field Hockey Camp last week.
The camp gave Dalrymple, current Lafayette players who worked the camp, as well as rising freshmen a chance to get to know one another. Sarah is a 2011 graduate from Temple and served as the team captain in her last season in 2010. She was the team defensive MVP and earned regional all-american and all-conference honors in her senior year. She was a member of the US National Indoor team in 2012 and 2013 and a member of US National Developmental Squad in 2010 and 2011.
Before her time at Hofstra, Dalrymple was an assistant at Longwood where she served as acting head coach during the spring of 2012. The ebullient coach said when she saw that Stone was looking, she gave her a call that led to her eventual appointment. ” I was extremely excited to be joining a great program.”
I reminded her that she was player at Temple as an opponent. ” Yes those were all tough games. I remember particularly a 2-2 overtime game in which Temple fell,” she remarked. I reminded her that Temple had the best of the Leopards the year before 3-1. I then asked if it would be weird coaching against 3 teams she was associated with this year,since Temple, Longwood, and Hofstra appear on the Leopard schedule this year. “Actually my first year at Longwood, Temple came down to play and we competed against my former teammates, however there is a now a new coach and new players. Much is the same at Longwood, but I suppose I don’t have to spend the same amount of time looking at Hofstra tapes,”she volunteered.
I asked if she would be responsible for the defense and goalies and she responded,” Yes, I will working with the goalies,but I hope to be helpful all over the field. Few people know I was recruited as a field player at Temple. The summer before I arrived, I seriously broke my ankle. We only had one goalie and the coach asked me to be the second goalie. So yes, I volunteered! By my junior season I was the starter and the rest is history.” Sara will have three goalies to work with, senior Kaitlyn Arnold, sophomore Gabrielle Ulery and freshman Sara Park. She has met all three and I can say they are all excited to work with her.
Coach Stone has said, “Sarah is an energetic, passionate, and driven coach, and we’re excited to welcome her to College Hill.”
The team reports on August 11, less than one month from today and I have heard that many members of the team will arrive early staying at apartments of those living off campus to work out together without coaches prior to the official start. Sounds to me like the team is anxious to get going. Go Pards!!
Lafayette College Field Hockey 