There are seven teams in the Patriot League and four teams will advance to the league playoffs in a single elimination tournament at the end of season. The winner gets an invite to the NCAA tournament regardless of record. There is also a rare possibility that a second team could be added as an at large invitee based on RPI. That would certainly take an RPI better than 16 at least, to be considered by the selection committee.
At the moment, the league records are as follows, American is 3-0, Boston 2-1, Lafayette 2-1, Holy Cross is 2-2, Lehigh 2-2, Bucknell 1-2 and Colgate 0-4. American plays Lafayette on Saturday and follows with Colgate and Boston in subsequent weeks. Aside from American, Lafayette will have Bucknell @ Bucknell and Lehigh @ home. Boston will play Lehigh this week-end and follow with Holy Cross, before a show down with American. Lehigh finishes with Lafayette. Holy Cross will host Bucknell on Saturday at 11 am, and followed with Boston @ Boston Oct 21st. Bucknell of course has it’s game this weekend with Holy Cross and follows @ home with Lafayette and finishes with Colgate. Colgate’s games have been already stated.
With 7 members in the league the number 4 becomes paramount. Either a 4 win record or a 4 loss record virtually guarantees a spot in or out. Colgate has 4 losses it will not be playing in the post season. A win by American over Lafayette means they are in for sure with 4 league wins and a leading candidate to host, depending on the head to head records at the end. Lafayette is playing for it’s 3rd win which would put it one win away from clinching a playoff berth and possibly hosting based on the head to head tiebreaker. The hosting spot may go the last weekend when Boston meets American. Holy Cross and Bucknell will be in a struggle to avoid three losses with tough games to follow the following week. If Lehigh loses to Boston on Saturday they are in a must win situation with Lafayette at Lafayette in the last league game of the season.
Yes, it is one game at a time, but for many of the teams on the short side of scores this weekend, it will put them within one game of elimination. The Leopards could help themselves with a win to enable them, to host and put them within one game of clinching a spot in the post season. So one game at time for our Pards. The Leopards need to concentrate on overcoming the Eagles this weekend, and THEN on to the next game.
Lafayette College Field Hockey 