With thirty seconds left in the first overtime period, Audrey Sawers who had already scored a goal in the third period during a corner, found Simone Hefting mid circle who deftly deflected the ball past the Holy Cross keeper for the win. It was an important game for both teams who entered the contest at 0-2 into the six game league race. At 1-2 Lafayette remains in the race for a spot in the Patriot League tournament while at 0-3 Holy Cross remains to meet a hot Lehigh team next week followed by a depleted ( no subs), Boston University squad, and a better Colgate team on the 18th.
Lafayette on the other hand must meet an American squad twice and play Bucknell at Bucknell. American will travel to Rappolt Field next week for a senior day against an inspired Lafayette squad.
Today’s game started off as a defensive battle as each team tried to find opening lanes only to be turned away on each side of the field. Lafayette had one shot and one corner. Lafayette keeper Haile Abbott had a key saves in the second quarter. Holy Cross had 2 shots, one on goal and one corner.
In the second half, the action picked up as Lafayette added one goal by Sawers at 33:39 followed 5 minutes later with a tying goal at 38:49 from Caitlin Little of Holy Cross. The Crusaders followed with 3 more shots while Lafayette turned it on with 5 more before the end of regulation in the fourth period. Overtime saw Lafayette add 3 more in the overtime including the game winner, while the Crusaders added 2. For the entire game the Leopards had 10 shots the Cross had 7. Corners were 3 to 3.
There were some great individual battles on the field with Devine and Molly McAndrews in conflict much of the game. However it was Audrey Sawers who was the diffence maker with 4 shots, 1 goal and one assist. Her goal was a thing of beauty reminiscent of her goal in the Patriot League championships, first dodging defenders and finding some individual space. Defensively she was again all over the field. McAndrew had the clear attention of the Crusader defense. Hefting’s deflection was expertly executed for the game winner!
This was a character game, as it was a must win for both sides. It was played in monsoon like conditions, on an opposing field, during senior day!! As has been the case every game, Coach Stone was to empty the bench of field players, all of which had contributions to make.
Will Boston Be Able To Play Without A Bench?
Boston beat Colgate yesterday and was to play them today, but couldn’t. ” because they have no subs.” The excuse was Covid, but if there was a positive case on tier one, yesterday’s game would have been cancelled. The discreet number of missing players suggest some violation of school covid rules!! Their next game is with Holy Cross on April 11.
Bucknell Beats American In Overtime
Bucknell stays in the hunt with a gritty 2 overtime victory against American.
Keep in mind this year we are on a point system. A win is 3 points and overtime loss gets you one point. So as it stands now, Boston leads with 9 points, followed by Colgate and Lehigh with 6. American and Lafayette are tied with 4 points, Bucknell has 3 and Holy Cross has 1. Do I smell tie breaker?? If a team plays less games ( Colgate, Lehigh, American and Boston are on track for less games, it will ranked by points per game). It seems a little bizarre!!
Lafayette College Field Hockey 