Amanda Magadan goes after an ariel during game with the Netherlands
Playing in the warm climate of Santiago Chile, Amanda Magadan and her teammates on the under 21 US Team are now 2-1 in pool play after defeating Zimbawe 10-0 on Thursday and beating a tough Korean team 3-2 today. On Friday the team lost to an excellent Dutch team 5-1. The US team now qualifies for the quarter finals on Wednesday and will play hemisphere rival Argentina.
Amanda is contributing, playing under the number 5, she has so far scored one goal and had one assist today on the first and tying goal against the Koreans. She is getting a lot of minutes and has demonstrated her skill and competitiveness we have grown to appreciate at Lafayette.
Amanda Magadan attacks the circle
So Go USA and Amanda for the rest of the tournament and bring home the gold!!
Megan Monahan Kahanowitz delivers her acceptance speech
Lafayette/Lehigh weekend is always special because of the great football rivalry, but it is a week of events that captures the moment for alumni and students alike. One event that is always well attended occurs on the eve of the game at the annual Hall of Fame dinner. There are major honors that are announced, and Lafayette Field Hockey athletes were recipients of two special award. First there is the annual induction of new members to the Maroon Club Hall of Fame. This year Megan Monahan Kahanowitz ’03, was the newest selection to the Hall of Fame.
Megan is congratulated by the Director of Athletics Bruce McCutcheon
Megan was joined by her husband, family, friends, and teammates as her accomplishments were read to the assembled diners. Kahanowitz was a Division one Second Team All-American in her senior season in which she led the nation in goals (33) and points (72). In her final two seasons she was a Mideast Regional All-American first team selectee and was twice named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year as well as tournament MVP.
She was a three time All Patriot League First Team selection and led a team that had a school and conference record 19 consecutive wins. Megan was the winner of the Charles L. Albert Award, as well received recognition from the LVAIAW, ECAC, and NFHCA all academic team. She also played in the North South All Star Game. Monahan still holds the Patriot League and Lafayette record for goals in a season, points in a season and ranks first in career points (160) and ninth in career assists (30).
Katelyn Arnold addresses the attendees of the Hall of Fame dinner
Senior Katelyn Arnold received the Maroon Club scholar athlete award. She was an all Patriot League selection her junior year and during her career collected 18 wins and 204 saves. She played in the NHFCA senior game during championship weekend at ODU on the saturday between the semi finals on friday and finals on sunday. She is a member of the NFHCA all academic team and a Scholar of Distinction. She is a government and law major and a economics major. She hold a 3.94 GPA.
Katelyn holds her newest piece of hardware
Finally, on sunday, the University of Delaware ( a regular Lafayette opponent), won the national championship against University of North Carolina. Congratulations to the Blue Hens. It is a testament to the growing balance in US College Division One Field Hockey.
American University, after winning a 1-0 game against Boston University, won the first round NCAA game against Kent State 2-1 and will play top ranked Duke University on Saturday at Duke. I don’t believe it’s out of line to ask ourselves if Boston University should have been named an at large team to the tournament. ACC member, Boston College was beaten by BU and they make it in. Princeton who came in second in the Ivy League to first place Harvard will be playing Penn State on Saturday. The rpi rating difference between Princeton and BU was minuscule.
Rosa Jonckheer delivers a goal
Patriot League teams have upped their out of conference schedules which should raise the rpi’s of the league in general. Bucknell had beaten then ranked Albany. Lafayette beat then ranked number 9 BU, and I could go on. Scholarships in the Patriot League have made a difference but the schools themselves have served notice that they want to be competitive.
Holy Cross recently replaced their Coach as did Lehigh last year. On November 3 Colgate announced that Cathy Foto of Colgate would not have her contract renewed. She was with Colgate for 28 years. They only won one game this year. A national search will be made for a new coach.
Midfielder Kristin Taylor finds a opening taking the ball upfield
In addition many high schools have installed turf which has improved the skill level of those going on to college. Club teams are flourishing, bringing expert coaching year round to young players. In addition the USA programs are encouraging competition at all levels.
So as the pool is getting better and bigger there will be more opportunities for schools to be competitive. In the end, it means we will see the Albanys, Lafayettes, Americans etc. with a higher profile nationally in the sport of field hockey.
Lafayette will soon be able to announce it’s early signees. I have no doubt there will be at least one all-American there, but more importantly the team and the league, with work, will have a chance for a bigger profile in the future.
Ellen Colbourne delivers the ball upfield into the circle for the assist against Temple.
It’s now been over a week since the last whistle ended Lafayette’s field hockey season. It was a season that began with large hopes, but I would be lying if I wrote that I left the site of the last game satisfied. There were highlights, no doubt. There was no lack of heart in this team as a series of one goal victories stirred us all in the stands with hopes of great things to come. The athleticism of Amanda Magadan, the skills of newcomers Rosa Jonckheer, Lisa Van der Geest, Cam Costello and others certainly raised expectations.
Rachael Bird shows her form, skill and strength delivering the ball upfield
The loss of Rosa due to injury was certainly a blow to our offense. but the amazing win with then number nine ranked Boston University in a shootout will certainly be embedded in my memory, as one of the great victories the program has had in its storied history. We were close, in an overtime loss to American University and to my mind certainly belonged, at that point, to the upper tier of the Patriot League. However, it was the loss to Holy Cross that demonstrated our offensive weaknesses. Make no mistake about it, Holy Cross played an inspired game and continued their gritty play straight into the playoffs with an amazing performance by their goalie who endured nearly 30 shots, letting only one in. The critical loss to Bucknell at Bucknell was just piling on disappointment.
Magadan scores and Van der Geest stands at the ready on an offensive corner against American
The team was not done even after the Bucknell loss, as they prevailed in a game with a Lehigh team that had nearly two weeks to prepare. Going down one goal, this team was not going out with a Senior night loss to an archival. They came back with two well executed corners and a stout defense to seal the victory. Ironically, the two goals were symbolic in that the first was from senior Amanda Magadan, and the second from part of our future, Lisa Van der Geest. Jonckheer was there as a threat but the time off, and lack of practice was too much of burden even considering her considerable talents.
All Patriot League honors were well deserved and spread out between señior Magadan, junior Colbourne, and freshman Van der Geest. Co-Captain Katelyn Arnold was a rock in the goal especially towards the end of the season but the lack of scoring punch was noticeable.
Always a threat Rosa Jonckheer works her way around the Temple defender
In several weeks, there will be a celebration with Megan Monahan ( her maiden name), being inducted into the Lafayette Hall of Fame. She holds virtually every offensive Patriot League and Lafayette offensive record to this day. Perhaps we can channel some of that skill to next year’s team.
This week Coach Stone will be announcing our fall signees. So it will be time to reload. This is still a young team. I can’t wait to see how this team evolves. We have a very solid defense even with a new goalie, our offense will be reinvigorated with a healthy Rosa Jonckheer, a motivated senior season with Rosie Shanks, and a host of freshman who will have a year under their belt with a winter and spring of training. I look forward to seeing what Coach Stone does with this cache of talent.
Shanks penetrates the circle against JMU
The bottom line is the Patriot League is improving, but so are we. The top of the Patriot league will be nationally ranked, and I see a time when the league will provide more than one team into the NCAA’s. It is a reminder, that it will not get easier and our team will need to get better. If everyone makes even a small step to get better, as a team we can make a large stride forward.
Make no doubt about it, we are NOT interested in a “participatory experience”, we are looking for championships. We need to be unafraid to admit it and get to work!!
Lafayette is planning a study to improve the performance of all Lafayette sport teams, in the League and Division one. A consultant has been hired. More about that in my next article.
Lafayette College Field Hockey 