The 2018 Schedule for Lafayette Field Hockey was posted on http://www.goleopards.com last night. Although essentially the same as that announced to the team last spring, there were several key changes. The game with Fairfield University which was initially tagged as a scrimmage is now the opening game of the season on August 24th at home at 6:30. Last year Lafayette played at Fairfield and came away with a 4-0 win, so the Stags will be looking for revenge as both teams look to start the season on a successful note.
Seven days later the team hits the road for Richmond, Va, to the home of the Spiders, hoping to reverse the 5-3 loss last year at home. That game will have an August 31st 3 pm start. The Leopards will stay in Virginia and travel down the road to Williamsburg to be ready for a September 2nd meeting at noon with the Tribe of William and Mary, a team not met for over a decade.
On September 7th, at the friendly confines of Rappolt Field, it will be Lafayette’s turn to host Temple, as they will be anxious to reverse the 4-1 win by the Leopards on the last game of the year last year.
Two days later it’s on the road again to Hamden, Conn at the home of Quinnipiac for a noon showdown with Maine, the first game ever between the two teams. This is just a warm-up for a huge Patriot League game five days later, with Lehigh at home at 7pm. The Leopards will be hot to get revenge for the 1-0 overtime loss to the Brown and White in Bethlehem last year.
It get no easier, as two days later, national power Albany will be in Easton to take on our favorite team on the 16th at 1 pm. After that its Drexel away on 21st, Liberty at home on the 23rd as a warm up for a crucial match with likely Patriot League favorite Boston University. The last time the Terriers were on Rappolt Field turf, they lost to the Leopards in a shoot out 2-1. We need everyone to be on board for that game on the 29th at 12 pm.
October opens up with Villanova, and the Leopard first trip to the Wildcats new field for a 5 pm match. On the 6th its back to Patriot League action in upstate New York to meet the Colgate Raiders for a must win game in Hamilton at noon. Two days later on the eighth, it’s back to the home turf for a meeting with Penn, who is the Leopards second most played team. That game will be a rare 4 pm start.
On the 13th its Patriot League action with another key game, at Holy Cross in Worcester. The Leopards will need these Patriot League wins to qualify for the end of season tournament and chance to dance in NCAA playoffs. The 12 o’clock start will be much anticipated.
The Leopards will have their first back to back game as they play Providence in Rhode Island on the 14th at 1 pm. It will be another first meeting for the two teams.
On Oct 20th it’s American who will test the Leopards at home at 12 o’clock as our team will try to solidify their status with a Patriot League win. Two days later it will by our second meeting with the Ivy League, as the Leopards will travel to central New York for a 4pm meeting with Cornell in Ithaca.
Finally, the regular season finale will be at Bucknell at 2 pm on Oct 27th in what promises to be a crucial game. There always seems to be something at stake when we meet Bucknell, and we expect that will still be the same scenario when Leopards step onto the Bison’s field at 2pm. Bucknell went to the final Patriot League championship game after beating American in the semi final in a shoot out 2-1.
Hopefully it’s the second season for the Leopards as the Patriot League tournament will be held at the regular season champion on November 2nd and 4th.
As usual there are no easy games to take for granted, but fans will be treated to good competitive Division One hockey. Go Pards!
Lafayette College Field Hockey 