New Haven is the destination this weekend as the Leopards play their first back to back games of the season. On Saturday at 12 noon it’s the Yale Bulldogs fresh off two wins to tie their overall wins for the whole year in 2015. On September 3rd, Yale came out on top, over instate neighbor Sacred Heart 2-0. Two days later they traveled to Brown University to play Bryant University and won an overtime victory 2-1. So overall, they have scored four goals on thirty eight shots for a 10 pct shot percentage. They are posting nineteen shots per game and eight penalty corners per game.
The Leopards are arriving with one more game under their belt and five goals in those three games, having been shut out by Monmouth. Their shot percentage is 14 pct on twelve shots per game with thirty one penalty corners to their credit against only six for their opponents.
The Leopards leading scorer is Rosie Shanks, with two goals and four points to her credit, followed by Lisa van der Geest with one goal and one assist for three points. Amanda Magadan has one goal for two points tied with Rosa Junckheer with a goal.
Yale like Lafayette has been going deep into their bench playing twenty players in both games. In the two games, Yale has allowed thirteen shots with their goalie Emelie Katz showing a 87.5 save percentage. ( Her sister is a midfielder and captain of the team ,Seffi Katz, and there are two other sisters Katie and Lily Smith). Emelie’s stats are no accident as she was named first team all Ivy last year as well as second team all mid-east with an 79.1 save percentage. She was second in the nation in saves per game and fourth in the nation in save percentage.
In viewing the Bryant game it seemed to be a very even game. In the overtime, Yale had an advantage due to an unfortunate green card committed by Bryant in the last minute of regulation. The winning goal was on a corner within the first minute of the overtime period.
Last year Lafayette won in the last game in regulation at home with Rosie Shanks scoring an unassisted strike at 39:38 into the game. Lafayette had fourteen shots to Yale’s eleven, and the teams were equal in penalty corners at seven. Yale was forced to make 5 saves to Lafayette’s three.
No doubt Yale is hoping to extend their win streak to three games at Lafayette’s expense, while Lafayette hopes to start a streak of their own having won their last game. If history is any guide, goalie play could be crucial in this game, but Lafayette will have an edge with their diversified attack. Lafayette must avoid turnovers!! No doubt this will be Yale’s toughest game of this young season. Lafayette has won two at home and will want to prove they can win on the road.
Sunday’s game will be at Yale with Quinnipiac at 5:30 which will be live streamed. More about that game later.
Lafayette College Field Hockey 