Van der Geest and Steps Score
It looked like the Leopards were to pull out a great win after the third quarter, when Lafayette took a 2-0 lead against a good William and Mary team. At 32:52 senior Lisa van der Geest took a terrific feed from Audrey Sawers to score the first goal of the game during a corner. The second goal was to come with Van der Geest providing the helper to Anna Steps, who put in beautiful redirect with seconds left. The game was being played under difficult conditions of a steady rain.
It was in the fourth quarter that William and Mary really came alive and put tremendous pressure on the Leopards. Two and a half minutes into the last quarter, they found the net to make it 2-1, and with less than 3 minutes to go William and Mary found the tying goal to send the game into overtime. William and Mary were to use the same swarming tactics around the goal, and they ended the game 2 minutes and 16 seconds into the first overtime period.
Reading the stats of the game explained the William and Mary turnaround. As I watched the game I thought most of the contest was battled at midfield. However, William and Mary outshot the Leopards 18-3. All of Lafayette’s shots came on corners. During the fourth quarter the visitors were to get multiple consecutive shots on goal, once they entered the attacking circle. They were to outshoot Lafayette 8-0 alone in the fourth quarter. Sarah Park, the Lafayette goal keeper managed to make 10 saves on the day, one of her highest totals of the season. The green and white were schooled to swarm the goal and collect rebounds and shoot again.
Lafayette played the game on senior day, as the they were feted before and after the contest.
Next up will be Bucknell, at home, next Saturday for an important Patriot League match. The Leopards can guarantee a winning season with another win, and a victory would keep them in the hunt for hosting the Patriot League Tournament.
Lafayette College Field Hockey 