Four year head coach Lindsey Jackson faces a big challenge where she must find enough talent to replace scorers who supplied 16 of their 28 goals last year. There are four seniors to replace but none is more important than Emily Loprete who scored 13 goals last year and Suzanne Noone who scored 3 more. She does see the return of her outstanding goalkeeper who she found on the ice hockey team in 2016, Marcia Laplante. Marcia stopped 75% of the shots against her and there were plenty. She was required to save 189. shots last year. Lafayette has had trouble beating Jackson coached teams as she had beaten the Leopards 3 times in row before losing 3-2 this year. In those three years the losses to Holy Cross were a factor in qualifying for the PL tournament. Lafayette put 24 shots to Holy Cross’ 7 during last season’s game. The last Holy Cross goal was by Loprete with less than a minute to play.
Jackson has one foreigner on the team and the rumor is she will be hunting overseas for additional talent. For the moment, I could find 2 recruits committed to Crusaders
Emily Donne:
This Mass. native is from Chelmsford High School and played her club hockey with the Wizards. She is a field player who contributed key assists in Chelmsford,s state tournament run. I have not been able to get some stats on her or a picture I could lift from the internet. I look forward to seeing more about this recruit in future Holy Cross releases.
Gabriella Venezia:
Is also a Wizard player from Mass. and played for the highly regarded Watertown HS field hockey team. She was named to the Boston Herald all- Scholastic team behind her 22 goal 10 assist 2018 performance. She was also named the Middlesex League MVP. Gabriella is a multisport athlete having played lacrosse as well. She will join her sister Olivia who will be a junior when Gabriella matriculates. Olivia, by the way scored a goal against Lafayette in last season’s match.
Lafayette adds fifth recruit
Lafayette announced a fifth recruit yesterday. From North Vancouver BC, Tara Hamilton. I have some nice video of Tara which I will post next week. She looks like a game changing attacker for the Leopards!!
Lafayette College Field Hockey 